Systems and Methods to Enable Offer and Rewards Marketing, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Network Platform

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for providing offers, incentives, and rewards across at least two merchants, wherein the system is operable to, in one embodiment, store a consumer profile including at least one account identifier, and wherein the at least one account identifier is related to at least one payment method. The system is further operable to receive at least one real-time purchase record and match elements of the real-time purchase record to the consumer profile, wherein the system is operable to provide merchant offers, incentives, and rewards based on the matching and the at least one real-time purchase record.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims priority to and the benefit ofone or more prior filed applications. This application is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/435,737, filed Feb.17, 2017, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.14/329,781, filed Jul. 11, 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/845,984 filed Jul. 13, 2013, each ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cloud-based platform for enrollingaccounts and administering one or more customer loyalty and rewardsprograms in electronic communications networks, and more particularly,systems and methods for providing and operating a customer loyalty andrewards platform including consumer or customer network-based andmerchant-based registration and the management thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Generally, prior art is known to provide digital loyalty and rewardssystem and methods. By way of example, relevant prior art includes thefollowing U.S. patents and Publications:

U.S. Publication 2013/0073361 for “Methods and systems for offeringtargeted deals to customers and real-time automatic redemption thereof”filed on Sep. 20, 2012, describes wherein a customer can select fromcoupons to them, such as offers made to the customer (which may need tobe purchased), vouchers purchased by the customer, and the like. Aredemption choice is received from the cardholder indicating one or morecoupons to ‘load’ onto the cardholder's card product. Information aboutoffers, coupons, vouchers, etc., loaded onto a cardholder's card productcan be stored in an offer deployment system. When the cardholder usesthe card product to purchase a good or service, a transaction approvalrequest is generated from at least one of a merchant, an acquirer, anassociation, a bank, and an issuer. The transaction approval request isprocessed wherein the step of processing comprises at least one ofquerying the offer deployment system which determines whether an offerloaded onto the cardholder's card product can be applied to thepurchase. If so, the value of the offer is applied to the transaction.Preferably, offer value is applied to the amount of the transactionapproval request before the request is received by the ultimatefinancial institution or card transaction processing system responsiblefor approving the transaction such that the amount of the transactionwhich must be approved is the purchase price of the good or service lessthe applied value of the offer. A receipt can be issued to thecardholder wherein the receipt indicates the purchase and use of thecoupon.

U.S. Publication 2012/0191525 for “Systems and Methods to FacilitateLoyalty Reward Transactions” filed Jan. 23, 2012, describes whereinReward communications can be processed as transactions over thecommunications system in a way similar to credit/debit transactions. Theenhanced communications system allows simpler and/or more efficientimplementation of complex loyalty programs, and provides new options forcreating new loyalty programs. In one embodiment, a transaction handlerfor the processing of transactions on financial accounts, such as creditaccounts, debit accounts, prepaid accounts, bank accounts, stored valueaccounts and the like, is configured to support transactions forcrediting rewards to a reward account and/or transactions for redeemingrewards from a reward account.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,573 for “Multiple party reward system utilizingsingle account” filed Dec. 31, 1998, describes using one reward/loyaltycard for multiple accounts and enabling a frequent shopper reward systemcapable of tracking performance data of a plurality of members oraccount holders linked to a single frequent shopper account.Additionally, the document discloses transacting with at least one ofthe present sub-account holders, calculating a reward level, allocating,to at least one of the present sub-account holders, at least a portionof the determined reward level, and updating the retrieved customerrecord.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,429,009 for “Universal Affinity System” filed Jul. 16,2008, describes tracking loyalty/reward programs through the use of athird-party card or other medium. The system enables: a merchant todetermine incentives, such as discounts, advertisements, or otheroffers, for a given customer or set of customers; uploaded theseincentives to respective customer “personal account lockers”; anduniversal ID is encoded as a bar code, the bar code may be provided to acorresponding customer on a variety of different media, such as on anadhesive label that the customer may apply to another device or item,printed on a credit or debit card, printed on a key-chain card, orprinted on any other device or item that a customer may be likely tocarry with him or her.

U.S. Publication 2013/0054454 for “Wallet Service Enrollment PlatformApparatuses, Methods and Systems” filed Sep. 21, 2012, describes whereina user may input username and password credentials into the walletwidget (e.g., 210) to get authenticated. The user may have control(e.g., create, view, manage, cancel, etc.) over the individualrelationships and may configure permissions for each service theyconnect to. In one embodiment, the WSEP may allow approved services,issuers and merchants permissions to obtain various information relatingto the user and wallet such as consumer profile 225, billing agreement230, redemption 235, loyalty and rewards 240, coupons/offers 245, wishlists and stored items 250, merchant applications/widgets 255, ValueAdded Resellers (VAR)/Software-as-a-service (SaaS) commerce walletplug-ins 260, analytics 265, account or points balance information 270,payments 275, and/or the like. In one implementation for example, theWSEP may manage which services can connect to the wallet. In a furtherimplementation, the WSEP may pass along information from an approved andconnected service such as a loyalty program (e.g., STAR WOODS POINTSprogram) to a merchant such that the merchant may provide the customer aspecial deal, offer or an opportunity to use or exchange points/currencywhen transacting. In one implementation, approved commerce services,issuers and merchants may be able to push information relating to any ofthe above to the wallet.

None of the prior art documents referenced herein or any known prior artprovides the solutions to the longstanding unmet needs that aresatisfied by the systems and methods of the loyalty platform of thepresent invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems and methods for providing andoperating a customer loyalty and rewards platform includingnetwork-based and merchant-based registration and management, includingmobile and electronic messaging, remote and local customer userregistration options, enrollment, and credit, debit, and otherelectronic payment card account association with the customer loyaltyand rewards platform.

The present invention further provides credit, debit, electronicpayment, and/or card account enrollment automatically, as well as thefunctions of adding promotional, financing and/or discount offer(s),and/or other offers to a profile, adding cards, credit, debit, and otherelectronic payment card accounts or electronic payment accounts,redeeming promotional or discount offers, real-time automatedfunctionality, providing data for a marketplace of vendors andcustomers, including account and activity data, providing a coalitionnetwork model, and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a system for providingoffers, incentives, and rewards for at least two merchants comprising: aweb tier hosted on a cloud network, wherein the web tier is in networkcommunication with one or more consumer applications, merchantapplications, or administrative applications; a network services tierhosted on the cloud network and providing a backend set of services, thebackend set of services operable for real-time communication with atleast one financial services server, wherein the backend set of servicesis operable to redeem an offer for a consumer account, redeem anincentive for the consumer account, or credit a reward to the consumeraccount; wherein the remote server computer is operable to storeconsumer information and at least one loyalty program enrollmentassociated with the consumer account, and wherein the consumerinformation includes an account identifier related to at least onepayment method; wherein the remote server computer is operable to managemerchant offers, incentives, and rewards across at least two merchantsfor the consumer account; wherein the web tier is operable to receive areal-time purchase record with at least one corresponding consumeraccount number and a purchase amount, wherein the real-time purchaserecord further includes indication of a merchant, at least one purchasedproduct or service, a corresponding device ID, and/or correspondingconsumer contact information; wherein the remote server computer isoperable to identify a corresponding user account by matching thecorresponding consumer account number with the account identifier and/orby matching the corresponding device ID and/or the correspondingconsumer contact information with the stored consumer information;wherein the remote server computer is operable to provide the merchantoffers, incentives, or rewards based on the merchant of the real-timepurchase record and the stored consumer information associated with theidentified corresponding user account; wherein the merchant offers,incentives, or rewards include at least one financing offer, incentiveor reward; and wherein upon acceptance of the at least one financingoffer, the network services tier is operable to reimburse at least someamount of the purchase amount and charge the at least one payment methodbased on terms of the financing offer.

In another embodiment, the present invention includes a system forproviding offers, incentives, and rewards for at least two merchantscomprising: a web tier hosted on a cloud network, wherein the web tieris in network communication with one or more consumer applications,merchant applications, or administrative applications; a networkservices tier hosted on the cloud network and providing a backend set ofservices, the backend set of services operable for real-timecommunication with at least one financial services server, wherein thebackend set of services is operable to redeem an offer for a consumeraccount, redeem an incentive for the consumer account, or credit areward to the consumer account; wherein the remote server computer isoperable to store consumer information and at least one loyalty programenrollment associated with the consumer account, and wherein theconsumer information includes an account identifier; wherein the remoteserver computer is operable to communicate at least one offer,incentive, or reward based on the stored consumer information associatedwith the identified corresponding user account; wherein the remoteserver computer is operable to manage offers, incentives, and rewardsacross at least two offers, incentives, or rewards programs for theconsumer account; wherein the remote server computer is operable toreceive an indication of activation of the at least one offer,incentive, or reward; wherein the web tier is operable to receive areal-time purchase record with at least one corresponding consumeraccount number and a purchase amount, wherein the real-time purchaserecord further includes indication of a merchant, at least one purchasedproduct or service, a corresponding device ID, and/or correspondingconsumer contact information; wherein the remote server computer isoperable to identify a corresponding user account by matching thecorresponding consumer account number with the account identifier and/orby matching the corresponding device ID and/or the correspondingconsumer contact information with the stored consumer information; andwherein the remote server computer is operable to redeem the at leastone offer, incentive, or reward for the consumer account.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention includes a method forproviding offers, incentives, and rewards for at least two merchantscomprising: storing consumer information and at least one loyaltyprogram enrollment associated with the consumer account, and wherein theconsumer information includes an account identifier; managing offers,incentives, and rewards across at least two offers, incentives, orrewards programs for the consumer account; communicating at least oneoffer, incentive, or reward based on the stored consumer informationassociated with the identified corresponding user account; receiving anindication of activation of the at least one offer, incentive, orreward; receiving a real-time purchase record with at least onecorresponding consumer account number and a purchase amount, wherein thereal-time purchase record further includes indication of a merchant, atleast one purchased product or service, a corresponding device ID,and/or corresponding consumer contact information; identifying acorresponding user account by matching the corresponding consumeraccount number with the account identifier and/or by matching thecorresponding device ID and/or the corresponding consumer contactinformation with the stored consumer information; and redeeming the atleast one offer, incentive, or reward for the consumer account.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art after a reading of the following description ofthe preferred embodiment when considered with the drawings, as theysupport the claimed invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a virtualized computing system forembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of one embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a graphic user interface (GUI) diagram of anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 5 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 6 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 7 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 8 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 9 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 10 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 11 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 12 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 13 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 14 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 15 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 16 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 17 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 18 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 19 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 20 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 21 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 22 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 23 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 24 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 25 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 26 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 27 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 28 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 29 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 30 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 31 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 32 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 33 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 34 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 35 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 36 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 37 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 38 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 39 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 40 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 41 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 42 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 43 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 44 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 45 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 46 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 47 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 48 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 49 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 50 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 51 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 52 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 53 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 54 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 55 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 56 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 57 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 58 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 59 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 60 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 61 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 62 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 63 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 64 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 65 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 66 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 67 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 68 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 69 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 70 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 71 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 72 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 73 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 74 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 75 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 76 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 77 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 78 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 79 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 80 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 81 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 82 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 83 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 84 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 85 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 86 illustrates another GUI diagram of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 87 illustrates a GUI diagram of a financing embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 88 illustrates a GUI diagram of another financing embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 89 illustrates a GUI diagram of another financing embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 90 illustrates a GUI diagram of an offers, rewards, and incentivesredemption embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 91 illustrates a GUI diagram of a financing embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 92 illustrates a financing offer, incentive, or reward for amerchant, including a “Buy Now, Pay Later” promotion, according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 93 illustrates a “Buy Now, Pay Later” promotion, including apre-approved user notification according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 94 illustrates a multi-option financing offer including an optionto pay via the platform according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 95 illustrates a multi-option financing offer including usernotification of an available financing offer according to one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 96 illustrates one embodiment of a cash back rewards programaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 97 illustrates a loyalty program for a specific merchant, includinga user feedback system according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 98 illustrates a co-brand, dual-brand, or private label paymentmethod registration system according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides systems and methods for providing andoperating a customer loyalty and rewards platform includingnetwork-based and merchant-based registration and management, includingmobile and electronic messaging, remote and local customer registrationoptions, enrollment and credit, debit, and other electronic payment cardaccount association therewith, as well as functions of providingpromotional and/or discount offers, adding promotional and/or discountoffer(s) to profile, adding cards, credit, debit, and other electronicpayment card accounts or electronic payment accounts, redeemingpromotional or discount offers, real-time automated functionality,providing data for a marketplace of vendors and customers, includingaccount and activity data, providing a coalition network model, andcombinations thereof. In describing the present invention andembodiments thereof, reference to a credit, debit, and/or payment cardis directed to any suitable form factor representing the account, ratherthan merely a physical card per se, because the form factor may change,such as transition to, or addition of, a mobile wallet or functionalmedium representing the electronic payment account. The platform issometimes referred to throughout the specification as the Springplatform or Spring.

The systems and methods of the present invention provide for connectingdigital network-based environments with payment data, including arewards platform and/or a loyalty platform for customers with merchantsparticipating in the network. The present invention systems and methodssolution provide merchants with ways to acquire new customers as well asa rewards program for existing customers. In one embodiment, any digitalmedia provided over a network, e.g., online media provided over theInternet, is functional and operable to automatically load or inputcustomer loyalty and rewards information to at least one electronicpayment media, including incentives or promotions to encourage consumeraction with the predetermined merchants for goods and/or services to beautomatically electronically associated with at least one credit ordebit card account, and/or electronic payment account of a correspondingconsumer user.

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a system for providingoffers, incentives, and rewards for at least two merchants comprising: aweb tier hosted on a cloud network, wherein the web tier is in networkcommunication with one or more consumer applications, merchantapplications, or administrative applications; a network services tierhosted on the cloud network and providing a backend set of services, thebackend set of services operable for real-time communication with atleast one financial services server, wherein the backend set of servicesis operable to redeem an offer for a consumer account, redeem anincentive for the consumer account, or credit a reward to the consumeraccount; wherein the remote server computer is operable to storeconsumer information and at least one loyalty program enrollmentassociated with the consumer account, and wherein the consumerinformation includes an account identifier related to at least onepayment method; wherein the remote server computer is operable to managemerchant offers, incentives, and rewards across at least two merchantsfor the consumer account; wherein the web tier is operable to receive areal-time purchase record with at least one corresponding consumeraccount number and a purchase amount, wherein the real-time purchaserecord further includes indication of a merchant, at least one purchasedproduct or service, a corresponding device ID, and/or correspondingconsumer contact information; wherein the remote server computer isoperable to identify a corresponding user account by matching thecorresponding consumer account number with the account identifier and/orby matching the corresponding device ID and/or the correspondingconsumer contact information with the stored consumer information;wherein the remote server computer is operable to provide the merchantoffers, incentives, or rewards based on the merchant of the real-timepurchase record and the stored consumer information associated with theidentified corresponding user account; wherein the merchant offers,incentives, or rewards include at least one financing offer, incentiveor reward; and wherein upon acceptance of the at least one financingoffer, the network services tier is operable to reimburse at least someamount of the purchase amount and charge the at least one payment methodbased on terms of the financing offer.

In another embodiment, the present invention includes a system forproviding offers, incentives, and rewards for at least two merchantscomprising: a web tier hosted on a cloud network, wherein the web tieris in network communication with one or more consumer applications,merchant applications, or administrative applications; a networkservices tier hosted on the cloud network and providing a backend set ofservices, the backend set of services operable for real-timecommunication with at least one financial services server, wherein thebackend set of services is operable to redeem an offer for a consumeraccount, redeem an incentive for the consumer account, or credit areward to the consumer account; wherein the remote server computer isoperable to store consumer information and at least one loyalty programenrollment associated with the consumer account, and wherein theconsumer information includes an account identifier; wherein the remoteserver computer is operable to communicate at least one offer,incentive, or reward based on the stored consumer information associatedwith the identified corresponding user account; wherein the remoteserver computer is operable to manage offers, incentives, and rewardsacross at least two offers, incentives, or rewards programs for theconsumer account; wherein the remote server computer is operable toreceive an indication of activation of the at least one offer,incentive, or reward; wherein the web tier is operable to receive areal-time purchase record with at least one corresponding consumeraccount number and a purchase amount, wherein the real-time purchaserecord further includes indication of a merchant, at least one purchasedproduct or service, a corresponding device ID, and/or correspondingconsumer contact information; wherein the remote server computer isoperable to identify a corresponding user account by matching thecorresponding consumer account number with the account identifier and/orby matching the corresponding device ID and/or the correspondingconsumer contact information with the stored consumer information; andwherein the remote server computer is operable to redeem the at leastone offer, incentive, or reward for the consumer account.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention includes a method forproviding offers, incentives, and rewards for at least two merchantscomprising: storing consumer information and at least one loyaltyprogram enrollment associated with the consumer account, and wherein theconsumer information includes an account identifier; managing offers,incentives, and rewards across at least two offers, incentives, orrewards programs for the consumer account; communicating at least oneoffer, incentive, or reward based on the stored consumer informationassociated with the identified corresponding user account; receiving anindication of activation of the at least one offer, incentive, orreward; receiving a real-time purchase record with at least onecorresponding consumer account number and a purchase amount, wherein thereal-time purchase record further includes indication of a merchant, atleast one purchased product or service, a corresponding device ID,and/or corresponding consumer contact information; identifying acorresponding user account by matching the corresponding consumeraccount number with the account identifier and/or by matching thecorresponding device ID and/or the corresponding consumer contactinformation with the stored consumer information; and redeeming the atleast one offer, incentive, or reward for the consumer account.

Loyalty and Rewards Platform.

In contrast to prior art systems and methods for loyalty and rewardsprograms wherein each merchant has its own closed loyalty and rewardsprogram, and wherein customers must take specific actions to enroll, thepresent invention provides for a loyalty and rewards platform includinga multiplicity of otherwise unrelated merchants, wherein customersautomatically enroll in a single loyalty and rewards platform thatprovides rewards across the multiplicity of merchants in the platform.In prior art examples, users earn points or a currency that isredeemable not at the merchant where the spend triggered the earn; bycontrast to the prior art, the present invention provides systems andmethods wherein users earn both a points currency redeemable outsidethat merchant and earn towards a cash back reward with the merchant atwhich the user spends. Thus, the present invention systems and methodsprovide an interactive “ecosystem” that leverages existing financialsystems, networks, and infrastructure related to electronic payment, inparticular (but not limited to) electronic payment cards, and existingcustomer behavior (making electronic payment by swiping a magneticstripe containing digital representation of customer account data andother customer data associated with at least one electronic paymentcard, for wide scale implementation of a multi-merchant loyalty andrewards, discounts, incentives, benefits, and combinations of theseprograms. Notably, mobile payments, electronic wallets, etc., or anyother form of electronic payment, may be used as well.

Advantageously, the present invention business methods transformcustomer payment information into marketing functionality informationthat enables automated performance-based digital promotions tracking andanalysis. By way of example, the present invention systems and methodsprovide automated performance-based digital promotions by trackingcustomer activity compared with revenue delivered as a result of thepromotions, as evidenced by customer electronic payments with merchantswithin the loyalty and rewards platform (member merchants), includingfactors such as payment amount, time, and location with respect to thecustomer spend with the member merchants. Furthermore, the presentinvention systems and methods include at least one database of customerelectronic payment account and corresponding payment information, whichis advantageously received from existing card networks, includingauthorization and settlement data, directly in real time or near realtime, thus creating customer spend behavior information and patternsrelating to them, including upstream pre-existing, which are transformedto target marketing opportunities with those customers. Merchantfriendly targeting of customers to incentivize specific spend behaviorincludes all promotional media available to deliver targetedadvertising, promotions, discounts, incentives and combinations thereof,to existing or past customers and to potential new customers in aplurality of formats and structures that are dynamic and that arecustomized to satisfy the merchant requirements for results that meetbusiness goals or expectations. For example, a merchant typically doesnot know if a target customer is an existing customer unless upstreamdata on that customer is available. Incentive-based discounting bymerchants is effective, but only for new customers or to reactivatestale customers. So upstream customer spend behavior and patterns areimportant and useful in structuring a targeting marketing project withthe present invention because they include customer geography, spendbehavior information, and provide self-reported automatic information(including zip code and time of business transaction with a givenmerchant, electronic payment card swipe location and time) that istransformed into a scatterplot or other visual or graphicalrepresentation with respect to up to about the past 90 days or less. Thetargeted marketing or advertising is also customer friendly inasmuch asthe incentives extended to the customers are directly relevant to thecustomer based upon past customer spend behavior, so they provideincentives or promotions that are consistent or related to the customerinterests, based upon comparison with the recent past spend behavior,and based upon relationship (active, stale and/or past but inactive, newand/or no relationship yet) with the merchant members of the loyalty andrewards platform.

The present invention further provides smart offer structures that arebased on customer spend behavior and that align the business goals orobjectives of the member merchants for stimulating and/or increasingcustomer activities in specific ways. For example, predeterminedtriggers are established for extending automated offers to the targetcustomers that provide discount-based incentives that deliver yieldmanagement in patterns that improve the revenue of the member merchantsaccording to predetermined times, days of the week, days of the month,etc., e.g., restaurant merchant members establish triggers to stimulatebusiness on weekdays without existing high traffic, like Tuesdays.Alternatively or additionally, the present invention provides SmartOffer Structures that provide support for triggers that are selectedfrom: time conditions, spend-level for a transaction conditions (i.e.above $X), spend-level for multiple visits at a merchanttransaction/visit frequency or visit threshold conditions, inviting acontact to join the platform or a merchant rewards program wherein thecontact is a social media contact and wherein in one embodiment thecontact is invited to like the platform page or a merchant page as wellas joining the platform or a merchant rewards program, joining theplatform or a merchant rewards program, and combinations thereof.

Significantly and advantageously, the loyalty and rewards platform ofthe present invention uses existing infrastructure for electronicpayment and does not require any change in customer payment types ormethods, which leverage existing customer payments without conscioussteps or actions by the customers (no merchant codes or coupons need tobe provided by the customers participating or enrolled in the platformat the time of purchase to engage the loyalty and rewards platform andmember merchants incentives). So the customer unconsciously engages theloyalty and rewards platform each time an electronic payment transactionis provided at member merchants within the systems and methods of thepresent invention; the customer experience is essentially effortless andrequires no additional steps other than purchase and electronic paymentwith merchant members. Furthermore, discrete interactions betweencustomers and merchant members of the loyalty and rewards platform ofthe present invention are automatically transformed into continuousinteractions without steps that are in addition to or extraneous to thepurchase transaction by the customer. Merchant members have customerpermission-based visibility into customer spend activities, behaviors,and therefore potential interests, which is essentially helpful forsuccessful targeted advertising to generate more business with new andexisting customers in predetermined ways. Therefore, customers'interests and merchant members' marketing goals are aligned to provideseamless, effortless interaction within the loyalty and rewards platformof the present invention.

Customer Enrollment.

The present invention provides for a customer to enroll multipleelectronic payment cards or devices, including but not limited to creditcards, debit cards, prepaid cards, mobile wallet devices, mobile paymentdevices, and combinations thereof. Notably, with the present invention,in one embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, enrollmentsteps include: a user swiping a payment card through a card reader(whether separate from or co-incident with swiping the card to effect apayment transaction), taking a photo of the payment card or entering thenumber through an online form, including doing any of the aboveconnected to or associated with a Tablet computer or mobile phonecomputer, and combinations of these options. There are a multiplicity ofmethods for customers to activate enrollment in the loyalty, rewards,and/or incentive platform of the present invention, including at leastone of: providing a physical form factor for receiving inputs fromcustomers at a merchant location; providing an interactive website withgraphic user interface via a data and communications network (e.g., theInternet) for receiving inputs from customers at remote locations fromthe merchant locations; providing a physical marketing collateral at amerchant location, such as by way of example and not limitation, atablet computer, a smartphone, a computer with display, etc.;automatically activating a customer enrollment by the system, whereinthe enrollment is triggered by a purchase made by the customer using anelectronic payment either at a merchant and/or via online (remote)purchase from a merchant within the network of merchants associated withthe loyalty and rewards platform of the present invention; andcombinations thereof. In the case of providing an interactive websitewith graphic user interface via a data and communications network (byway of example but not limitation, the Internet) for receiving inputsfrom customers at remote locations from the merchant locations, thewebsite may be accessed by customers after they input a website URL,provide inputs on a merchant website with a link to a URL forregistration and creating a customer profile, receive a text message orSMS with a URL link that directs the customers to a URL for registrationand creating a customer profile, providing an email invitation to acustomer with a link to a URL for registration and creating a customerprofile or other interactive website enrollment or registration page;providing any other digital object online, including an ad with anincentive, and combinations thereof. A sign-up or enrollment incentivemay be provided in addition to advertising or other promotion ofcustomer enrollment in the loyalty and rewards platform.

In any case, the enrollment automatically provides for express, customerpermission-based access to spend information across all registeredelectronic payment cards for any issuing bank, and for any card type(e.g., the associations providing electronic payment cards, includingVISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, or DISCOVER networks for any issuingbank or financial institution). Because the automatic enrollment isindependent of a financial institution and independent of any cardissuer, the systems and methods of the present invention provide thefirst comprehensive multi-merchant, multi-electronic payment form (card,etc.) for loyalty and rewards platforms, including real-time or nearreal-time upstream and downstream data availability relating to customerspend behavior, thus meeting a longstanding, unmet need for thissolution. The systems and methods of the present invention provide forcustomer spend data to be automatically obtained directly from theelectronic payment card networks or associations (e.g., VISA,MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, or DISCOVER); additionally oralternatively, data is acquired from issuers or processors of theelectronic payment cards. Thus, the present invention provides theability to take data from one or more financial institutions. Also, thepresent invention provides the ability to take data from merchantprocessors or all the processors. With this, the loyalty and rewardsplatform database includes information and access to information fromthe electronic payment card or account authorization file or feed; thisdata is preferably aggregated and integrated by the servers anddatabases of the systems and methods of the present invention.Furthermore, the systems and methods of the present invention areapplicable to function for all merchants that accept any type of paymentcards and/or electronic payment, not only those that use a specificprocessor. That is part of what is a unique attribute of the presentinvention that provides a ubiquitous solution and marketplace or networkconfiguration of merchants and customer users. In one example, thosecustomers that use a given processor can enroll all card types, but onlyfor the merchants that use that processor.

Other enrollment mechanisms for a consumer to enroll in the platform orin a specific merchant rewards program through the platform include:reading a card or card account number via a magnetic stripe reader,EUROPAY VISA MASTERCARD (EMV), NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC),RADIO-FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID), smart chip, etc., taking a photoof a card or account number, scanning a bar code, account number entryin a web browser or on a mobile app, selecting a button on a website ormobile app, automatic enrollment after selecting a single incentiveoffer or a group incentive offer presented on the platform site, a thirdparty site, via a mobile app, email, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)message, Short Message Service (SMS) message, or in response to a pushnotification, and/or via accepting an invitation and/or incentive via asocial media or email contact or text message.

Enrollment Mechanism and Business Model.

The systems and methods of the present invention loyalty and rewardsplatform provides for automatic receipt of all data available to theassociations relating to electronic payment card information, while theloyalty and rewards platform provides compensation to the one or moreassociations only when the loyalty and rewards platform generatesrevenue under its business model of providing targeted advertising tocustomers for member merchants. The member merchants preferably havecustomer-approved visibility to every customer spend event or activity,even though every customer spend event does not generate the redemptionof the incentives provided by the member merchants to the targetcustomers under the loyalty and rewards platform of the presentinvention. By having customer-approved visibility to every customerspend event or activity without having to compensate the associationsfor access to all of the data (and only providing payment when revenueis generated from the loyalty and rewards platform) the presentinvention has unique insight into more customer behavior that can informthe targeted advertising and incentives provided under the presentinvention, and attract more merchant members to participate, which inturn attracts more customer members to participate, thus creating arapidly automatically growing and evolving loyalty and rewards platformor loyalty and rewards ecosystem that self-perpetuates growth withoutundue effort by any single member, whether customer or merchant member.

Any and all micro-mechanics of electronic payment device or payment cardor payment card account enrollment are considered within the scope ofthe present invention, such as data entry by customer online or throughsoftware on a smartphone, tablet computer, computer, etc., magneticstrip swipe or other reader input at POS or magnetic strip swipe orother reader outside of POS specific to effecting only the consumer cardaccount enrollment, chip and/or PIN, capture image of a card, or any PCIcompliant manner, and/or any others described hereinabove, andcombinations thereof. By way of example, the enrollment mechanismsinclude but are not limited to, a web-based API that provides forautomatic enrollment with no latency, i.e., the real-time enrollment ofan electronic payment card occurs with the customer using the card for atransaction with a participating merchant member, or the customer mayregister one or more electronic payment cards with an online enrollmentwith an interactive website, or onsite with a member merchant with acard reader form factor, and/or with an electronic form factor, such asa tablet computer, even without making a purchase at the time ofenrollment. Preferably, whenever any payment is made through one or moreof the associations or processor, whether cash (in any currency),credit, debit, etc. on electronic payment card accounts, thatauthorization file and settlement file and corresponding data isautomatically provided to the loyalty and rewards platform of thepresent invention through a communications or data network to thedatabase(s) and server(s) of the loyalty and rewards platform, wheneverthe customer member makes an electronic payment at the member merchant.The data includes authorization date, time, merchant identifier,location identifier, and combinations thereof.

The loyalty and rewards platform of the present invention providesrewards or loyalty and rewards points or other units to the customermember account, which is associated directly with any of the electronicpayment cards of the customer member that are enrolled with the loyaltyand rewards platform. The loyalty and rewards points or units areautomatically attributed to the customer member account, and areapplicable to spend with any and all merchant members within the loyaltyand rewards platform in electronic form, without requiring anyadditional action, selection, or indication by the customer of how orwhen the loyalty and rewards points or rewards will apply, and to whichmerchants. Preferably, the loyalty and rewards points are convertibleautomatically into any incentive available on the loyalty and rewardsplatform at any time. The format may include automatic credit to theelectronic payment card account, prepaid cards, etc., and is preferably“paperless”, i.e., the system automatically indicates, tracks, andstores data on the incentives and points available to any customer atany time, and tracks redemption and/or cash credit to the customeraccounts.

From business model standpoint, the present invention systems andmethods further provide for a seamless settlement of the redeemed offerby providing for automatic debit or automatic payment by the merchantmembers accounts, as they provide permission to debit the merchantand/or processor account at the time a customer activates and redeems anoffer provided by that merchant within the loyalty and rewards platformof the present invention.

Customer Activation of an Offer.

Preferably, real-time data is used to message customer members aboutoffers from member merchants, including offers to join, earn and redeemloyalty and rewards points or units within the loyalty and rewardsplatform of the present invention. Following customer enrollment in theloyalty and rewards platform, the customer can see all merchant membersassociated with the system, search for offers and search for merchantsof interest, for merchants within the network and also for merchantsthat are not yet included in the network. Activation of an offer is byclick-select and automatic loading to the electronic payment card(s)associated with the customer profile following enrollment. The offer canbe added to the electronic payment card automatically for automaticredemption, by the user “claiming the offer” through an action onlinesuch as clicking a link, the offer may be added with a purchasetransaction (buy now and redeem later), pre-paid cards, the ability forthe automatic redemption on a card, and/or a trigger activation of anoffer may be provided online or through customer activity or proximityto a merchant member location.

Examples of different types of offers include a cash back offer, anadvanced sale offer, a pre-purchased offer, and a credit eligible offer.A cash back offer is preferably an offer for a fixed dollar value orpercentage of a transaction amount of cash back when a user hasactivated the offer and meets all qualifying conditions. A pre-purchasedor advanced sale offer is, in one embodiment, an offer which ispre-purchased by the user. Notably, the pre-purchased or advanced saleoffer often redeems at higher rates since the user must pay for thisoffer upfront and the offer preferably has an expiration. A crediteligible offer is, in one embodiment, a special offer which is purchasedwith rewards currency earned by the user via a purchase transaction orother activity at one or more merchants or partner websites, mobileapplications, or other digital assets, including currency, points,rewards, or offers from a Third Party Partner or a mall currency. In oneembodiment, a credit eligible offer is supported by (1) an API grantinga Third Party Partner user a fixed dollar amount of rewards currency,(2) an API returning a list of credit eligible offers to be used byThird Party Partner, (3) an API allowing a credit eligible offer to beclaimed, (4) an API showing details on how the rewards currency has beenearned and spent, (5) contacting an API to award the currency, (6)allowing the customer user to select available credit eligible offers,and (7) showing currency balance and details on a user interface.

Targeting rules for offers include targeting, by way of example and notlimitation: everyone, existing members of the platform, non-members whohave not joined the platform, spenders who have previously transactedthrough the platform, non-spenders who are members of the platform buthave not transacted through the platform, lapsed members who have nottransacted in the last X days, hours, minutes, etc. generally or at aspecific location/store, and VIP members who have a hit a lifetime levelof spending through the platform. The front-end system of the platformprovides for implementation of targeting rules as well as trackingmembership and summarizing transactional data.

Display rules govern whether an offer should be shown or activated.Redemption rules determine if an offer which has been activated can beredeemed based on a qualifying transaction. By way of example and notlimitation, redemption rules include location (is the offer accepted atthe store or location where the user transacted?), transaction date (isthe offer still valid and not blacked out?), transaction time (is theoffer being redeemed at the set time of the day?), and minimum purchase(is the transaction amount sufficient to redeem the offer?). Preferably,the redemption rules are enforced by the platform. The Third PartyPartner mobile app and website would need to display and communicatethese rules, so users are aware of the restrictions prior totransacting. Location specific offers typically require that locationtransactional data or real-time location data is transmitted to theThird Party Partner using identifiers readable by the Third PartyPartner website and app. Location transactional data or real-timelocation data is communicated in a variety of ways, including but notlimited to, via Global Positioning System (GPS), an IP address of apoint of sale system, an IP address of an electronic device involved ina transaction, cellular triangulation, etc.

The present invention systems and methods also preferably leverage emailmarketing mechanisms to connect customer behavior to customer actionwith member merchants. So preferably, all promotions in the loyalty andrewards platform of the present invention are provided in a digitalformat or on a digital “surface”, that connect to downstream customerbehavior and spend as evidenced by the enrolled electronic payment cardtransactions of the customers with the member merchants. By way ofexample and not limitation, the customer click-selects a digitaladvertisement online or presented in an email or text message or website format, and load or input or import the corresponding digitalincentive to a customer profile or account on the loyalty and rewardsplatform of the present invention (the Spring profile) and automaticallyload it to the electronic payment cards (or accounts) that areassociated with that customer profile within the loyalty and rewardsplatform. Then, any subsequent electronic payment with the correspondingcustomer cards at the member merchant automatically provide for theredemption or discount associated with the digital incentive offeredonline by the member merchant.

In one embodiment of the present invention, automatic enrollment througha purchase transaction includes the steps of: the system receiving anelectronic payment customer account number or identifier (including forexample but not limitation, a credit card capture number); receiving apermission from the corresponding customer (user) corresponding to theelectronic payment customer account number or identifier; receivingcustomer contact information (by way of example and not limitation,name, address, phone number, email address, and combinations thereof);automatically creating a customer profile from the information received;automatically enrolling the customer and corresponding customer profileas a participant (or member) in the loyalty and rewards platform. Thepresent invention systems and methods provide for at least two ways forcustomers to join the marketplace or network: 1) when a user purchasessomething, whether an online e-commerce check out or a card presenttransaction at POS in a store, that transaction also is functionallyequivalent to an automated enrollment (and importantly, because the userso indicates and provides a permission); 2) a customer user first joinsthrough one of many potential entry points—for example at a firstmerchant, Merchant #1 or other connected/and or registered loyaltysystem. After that, when the user simply pays with an enrolled card atanother merchant in the network, that creates the potential for the userto “join” the rewards program of that #2-N merchant on an automatic,opt-out or opt-in basis. This is a very powerful way for all merchantsand partners that participate in the network to build their rewardsmember list because normal swipes are functionally equivalent to joiningto customers, if already in from somewhere else. Real-time notice tousers based on authorization data (or data coming out of the POS) isimportant to make this work for the user when swiping and automaticallyjoining thereby at merchant 2-N.

Notably, the present invention systems and methods provide for automaticcustomer enrollment of multiple cards (or electronic payment devices) ofany card type, and/or from different issuing banks, following receipt ofnear real time authorization or copy of capture data from electronicpayment transactions by the customer at the at least one merchantparticipating in the loyalty and rewards platform of the presentinvention. At least one primary account number associated with acustomer is used for automatic enrollment with the loyalty and rewardsplatform; other cards or electronic payment accounts may be furtherincluded and associated with that customer profile based upon futuretransactions (and automatic inputting of alternate accounts at the timeof the transactions for customers already associated with the loyaltyand rewards platform). Customers may create a corresponding customerprofile at the time of enrollment.

Optionally, additional method steps include: automatically associatingthe customer profile with at least one merchant registered within theloyalty and rewards platform of the present invention; automaticallygenerating at least one advertisement, promotion, and/or incentive forthe customer based upon patterns generated from customer behavior andcorresponding association data that are stored in a database andanalyzed by at least one server computer in electronic communicationconnection with the database. Significantly, no prior art enrollmentmethods provide for automatic enrollment of multiple cards of any cardtype and/or from different issuing banks, since the prior art systemsand methods do not receive near real time authorization or copy ofcapture data.

The systems and methods of the present invention provide for activationof an offer (incentive, loyalty and rewards benefit, reward, andcombinations thereof) extended by a merchant participating in theloyalty and rewards platform of the present invention to at least onecustomer, including at least one of the following steps: automaticallyadding the offer to the electronic payment account of the correspondingcustomer(s); automatically presenting an offer for the customer(s) topurchase and redeem later in association with at least one of thecustomer accounts identified or stored with the loyalty and rewardsplatform; and/or automatically crediting the account and/or triggeringthe offer when a customer makes a purchase of goods or servicesassociated with the offer and/or the merchant associated with the offer.

Offers, incentives, and/or rewards (including financing or installmentoffers and/or terms) are operable to be initiated, managed, redeemed,and/or targeted, via the platform by third party partners (includingmerchants, financial institutions, digital marketing institutions,locality-based organizations (e.g., shopping malls), multi-merchantretailers and networks, and others) or by the platform directly. In oneembodiment, the platform provides both customer accounts and third-partyaccounts, wherein third party accounts and customer accounts have accessto different functionality, and wherein third party accounts areoperable to initiate, target, track, analyze, and manage campaigns forone or more merchants or organizations. In another embodiment, each typeof account is provided access by the platform to one or more programs(e.g., mobile, web, or desktop applications) or websites, wherein theaccess provides each of the management and campaign tools for creatingoffers, incentives, or rewards, and tracking usage and feedback.

Loyalty and Rewards Platform Communication and Data.

The present invention systems and methods provide for the ability tocommunicate with any customer member following enrollment by any meansfor any electronic payment card or device account associated with thecustomer member. The communications methods may be provided by email,text or SMS, native application on mobile and tablet computer devices,automatically through geographic location functionality andcorresponding software, email CRM and marketing communications, etc.Advantageously, the presentation, targeting, communicating, tracking,reporting, analytics, offer types, redemption, and customer behaviorsrelating to spend compared with offers presented are included with thepresent invention loyalty and rewards platform communications and dataassociated with the customer electronic payment transactions. Allmethods of merchant offer discovery by the customers and/or promotion tocustomers is provided within the scope of the present invention. Thedata analytics and reporting may be provided to member merchants, tomember customers, or to partners of the loyalty and rewards platform tofacilitate assessment of success of the loyalty and rewards behaviorcorresponding to digital incentives provided by any means. Thus, thepresent invention uniquely provided direct correlation of targetedadvertising in any electronic format to actions taken and to spendactivity by the customers on a transaction basis and with respect totrends or behavior over time.

Track and Utilize Transaction Activity

Advantageously, the systems and methods of the present invention areoperable to use both real-time transaction data, preferably in the formof authorization files or notification of authorization files, andlatent transaction data, which is preferably in the form of clearingfiles or notification of clearing files. Transaction data is obtainedfrom, inter alia, a server computer or cloud of a financial servicesprovider, a point-of-sale, a server associated with a point-of-sale, orany other source including the authorization files or clearing files.Transaction data is used for targeting and sending messages and/ordigital content, which provides for targeting or segmenting users basedon transaction history to send a message or notification, including apromotion or offer, electronically to a user, via, by way of example andnot limitation, email, text, mobile app notifications, an ad, an offer,or other digital content. The transaction history preferably includeshistory relating to merchants, services, goods, classes/types of goods,and/or classes/types of services. Preferably, these messages ornotifications are sent by the network services tier, which is operableto send a message or notification to a consumer or merchant in theplatform. In another embodiment, transaction data is used in real-timeto send a message or notification electronically to a user via any ofthe methods listed above relating to the user earning a reward,incentive, or receiving an offer, as well as providing an opportunityfor the user to provide feedback or a review. Transaction data is alsoused in real time by the platform to trigger the earning of an incentive(offer, reward, etc.). In contrast to merely just notifying the userabout an incentive, this involves actually activating the incentive.Notably, the present invention also provides for the ability to usetransaction data in real time to trigger the redeeming of an incentive(offer, reward, etc.). Transaction data is also used in real time toenroll a user into a loyalty, rewards, or offers program which is partof the platform or to send a message or notification electronically viaany of the methods referenced above related to enrollment.Advantageously, a user enrolled in the platform of the present inventioncan join specific platform programs throughout the network on an opt outor opt in basis.

Spend Informed User Base and Spend Informed User Base Service(s).

Spend-informed user base or audience and spend informed user baseservice(s) includes any consumer user active with any form of digitalsurface or asset, including a web page, email, mobile application, textmessage, etc., where that activity by the consumer user can be informedby or services enhanced by that user's past or future spend behaviorinformation using a payment mechanism or form factor including a paymentcard account (including account number) or functionally equivalentmechanism. Examples of use of previous “upstream” payment informationinclude targeting certain messages or advertisements or content to theuser based on such data. For example, the presentation of advertisements(ads) or other content to users varies based on user spend informationand ability for platform to discern user status (e.g., to identify ifthe user is in a merchant rewards program or not, if the user has made apurchase or spend at predetermined merchant(s) within last predeterminednumber of days or not, whether the user spends a financial value above apredetermined amount or not, already in merchants email list or not, andcombinations thereof; if the user has spent at predetermined geographyscope, location(s), category or time, therefore a content is likely tobe relevant to user; enable different pricing to merchant depending oncharacter of user (e.g. new customer within last predetermined timeframeor not) and presentation surface; and combinations thereof.

An example of use of future or “downstream” spend behavior by consumerusers includes any tracking of user spend behavior after interactingwith content on digital surface.

In another use case, the platform provides an aggregated group ofconsumer users with platform-registered (or platform-enrolled)corresponding payment card account information, and the platform isoperable for receiving by the at least one server computer, storing andanalyzing in the database, the consumer users' spend data and productand/or services included in each purchase. A merchant client runs anon-digital marketing campaign or a digital marketing campaign that doesnot include direct click-stream tracking to the users' spend behavior.The comparative aggregate normalized spend behavior of various usersgroups and users before and after the campaign be reported and analyzed.Example: 1,000,000 users are enrolled in Spring in Chicago. 50K in agiven merchant's rewards program. Merchant runs a radio campaign. Thespend behavior of both user pools is tracked and analyzed to show “viewthrough” or “hear through” vs. click through response.

Spend Informed User Base Service(s) should also include any service witha mechanism to credit value to users based on their spend behavior inrelation to any marketing or promotion activity or service. For example,crediting a user $X because they took a certain action in relation to apromotion to that user.

Methods of Developing Spend Informed User Base.

Associated with Customer Use of a Payment Card Account.

The present invention systems and methods provide for consumer user signup mechanisms with the platform that are automatically activated whenthe consumer user makes a purchase using an electronic payment cardaccount, such as by way of example and not limitation, by making apayment for goods and/or services via a credit card having a magneticstrip at a point of sale (POS) device (“a card-swipe”). Currently,card-swipe works with the platform of the present invention when theconsumer user has registered or signed up online or via aplatform-enabled mechanism (e.g., a tablet computer located at amerchant that is registered or associated with the platform),subsequently the user makes a transaction at another registeredmerchant, and the consumer user is presented with a message on a graphicuser interface of a display on the POS mechanism, that allows the userto activate another unrelated part of the platform ecosystem (e.g. at anunrelated second merchant's program). These steps may include anopt-out, opt-in or automatic (no message at all) basis.

The systems, methods, and platform of the present invention operate toallow the consumer user to register automatically remotely via differentmechanisms and methods that functionally operate to “sign user up onceanywhere in the network”, i.e., to provide for the consumer user toregister in a single instance within the platform from any one of avariety of methods, mechanisms, and/or activities that include a singlepurchase or spend by the consumer user at any of the registeredmerchants within the platform using the at least one consumer userelectronic payment card account. By sharp contrast to the presentinvention, all prior art rewards programs require that users enrollmultiple times at multiple merchants, and/or take more than one actionto activate rewards or digital incentives with multiple merchants and/ormultiple payment card accounts; they must re-enroll the user includingtheir need to provide their payment card account number through at leasta second specific subscription process or step(s).

Associated with Payment to a Business or Through a Service.

The present invention systems and methods provide that when a consumeruser pays a merchant for goods or services, capturing users or audiencefor any service other than customer paying their bill for thattransaction through any mechanism of card account number capture, and/ora way to communicate with user (e.g. through email or text), whetherthrough user opt-in, opt-out or automatically (without explicitconsent). So, for example, the way customers pay through prior arttablet POS payment system (e.g. SQUARE or other similar providers,including BREADCRUMB, GROUPON POS, SHOPKEEP, CLOVER, etc.), would notallow the service to then convert those customers into users of someother service e.g. a rewards or loyalty program, unless they sign up adifferent way; this is a longstanding problem with the prior art. Thepresent invention provides for automatic capture of a customer user'spayment card account information and/or capture of a customer user emailaddress or text number for a mobile phone or smartphone, followed byand/or associated with automatically generating and sending a message atthe at least one server computer over the network to the consumer user'smobile device, wherein the message indicates that the user can opt-in orout of joining the platform automatically. Preferably, the systems,methods, and platforms of the present invention extends to and includesany and all other payment card acceptance vehicles or mechanisms (e.g.VERIFONE terminals, conventional POS, payment for something online on awebsite, etc.).

Conversion of Payment Card Accounts on File.

Many e-commerce companies have large user bases who have purchasedsomething through that company's website and given permission tomaintain that card on file. Notable examples include online music stores(e.g., APPLE ITUNES), e-commerce marketplaces (e.g., GROUPON,LIVINGSOCIAL, AMAZON), digital payment systems (e.g., BRAINTREE andtheir VENMO e-commerce service that allows sites to share thispermission), and the like. For example, if you buy something on atransportation app (e.g., UBER) and provide a card on file, you can buysomething through a lodging app (e.g., AIRBNB) without providing a newpayment card, but just using the one in the digital payment system(e.g., VENMO) enabled service.

Preferably, the systems and methods of the present invention provide forthe automatic conversion of these payment-card-on-file accounts intoelectronic payment card accounts enrolled in a service that enables orutilizes spend informed users, as described herein, and/or registeredwith the platform of the present invention, which is not described,disclosed, or used in the prior art. By way of example, the followinguse cases are illustrated for the present invention.

When a consumer user purchases something, the consumer user spend orpurchase activity with a payment card account, the systemco-incidentally and automatically is enrolling the payment card accountand providing a permission to terms of use or privacy policies that area Spend Informed User service. Whether opt in, opt out or automatically.Once a consumer user has registered with the platform of the presentinvention, including providing at least one electronic payment cardaccount and a profile, if there is a card-on-file, separate from apurchase transaction, the consumer user provides a permission, such asopt in, opt out, or automatically, to include the other payment cardaccounts, such as the card-on-file.

Scheduling App+Card Linked Offer.

The present invention provides the system with the ability to present oraccept or use any advertisement or marketing content to a consumer userthat may be accepted and linked to their electronic payment card accountthrough or in association with or adjacent to their use of anyappointment booking or scheduling application. For example and notlimitation, the method steps of: making a reservation at a restaurantusing a restaurant table-finding app (e.g., OPENTABLE or similarweb-based application), or making a reservation at a health or beautyprovider using SalonBooker.com, SpaBooker.com, SpaFinder.com, orLifeBooker.com or similar web-based application. Either of these methodsteps that provide for making an appointment or scheduling a reservationautomatically provide the functionality of sign up for the user with thesystems and methods of the present invention. Additionally, atime-window based incentive that is conditional upon taking an action ormaking a step such as scheduling an appointment or reservation using apredetermined website-based application from a remote communicationsdevice may be provided, e.g. dine Tuesday after 5 p.m. and receive $20off your bill. Enrollment also occurs according to one embodiment of thepresent invention in connection with making an order for goods orservices, by way of example and not limitation, ordering food delivery,food pickup, a ride from a transportation app (e.g., UBER, LYFT), ataxi, or any other order for goods and/or services.

Protect Products that Monetize.

Digital incentives are operable automatically within any of the at leastone consumer user payment card accounts registered with the platform bythe consumer user and/or associated with the consumer user profile onthe platform. Digital incentives may be provided as a flat ratediscount, a flat rate for predetermined products or services inspecified, predetermined, and/or quantity, a discount rate as apercentage for total spend or purchase at at least one merchantregistered within the system to participate in the platform of thepresent invention. For example, a digital incentive may provide theconsumer user to save $10, save 10%, and/or save $10 or 10%, on the nextpurchase at predetermined merchant(s) of the platform.

Digital incentives created by and associated with the platform, systems,and methods of the present invention are provided to consumer users canbe activated many ways, based on many conditions or automatically, forexample, a click-select action by a customer user in a GUI of a websiteor mobile app GUI automatically activates a digital incentive associatedtherewith.

Digital incentives (DIs) can have conditions, restrictions, and/orlimitations required for their redemption automatically on the consumeruser's payment card account(s) registered with the platform and/orassociated with the consumer user profile stored on the platformdatabase. By way of example and not limitation, automatically triggeringthe automatic redemption by satisfying conditions, restrictions, and/orlimitations associated with the digital incentive occurs in thefollowing types of scenarios: purchase amount or spend of X value (in acurrency) is required to trigger the DI, a predetermined number ofvisits within a predetermined time frame to a predetermined merchant ormerchants are required to trigger the DI, a transaction for purchase orspend must occur within a predetermined time window defined by a starttime, or a start time and an end time (e.g., beginning Tuesday after 5p.m., or Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., etc.), only a limitedquantity of items or instances of services are available, customer usermust have a certain status (e.g., has not yet completed a transactionwith at least one predetermined merchant in last predetermined number ofdays, or is or is not a member of merchant's rewards program or on theiremail list), a pre-purchase is required (and then the DI worksautomatically through use of that or any payment card on the consumerusers' profile or platform account, an advance sale product or servicefor a predetermined merchant as agreed upon in advance, and combinationsthereof.

None of the prior art publications and/or commercial providers orpromoters of deals provide for any mechanism to electronically link toor integrate with a payment card or with a payment card account forconsumer users. In those prior art references, users purchase a dealusing a payment card such as a credit card used online for completingthe purchase, but any aspect of redemption, including tracking andcrediting, is not managed through the user's payment card account, aswith the platform, systems and methods of the present invention. Thepresent invention systems, methods, and integrated platform operate topromote a deal or other incentive to consumer users, have consumer userspurchase it, or otherwise activate it including through a click-selector other input or event, and/or with a device or mechanism as describedherein), and have its presentation and redemption in relation to thecorresponding transaction with the merchant associated with andreceivable of the deal or incentive, and provide for automaticadministration and management of the redemption through the consumeruser payment card account.

By way of additional detailed description of the platform, systems andmethods of the present invention, included in the functionality andoperation for providing for any mechanism to electronically link to orintegrate with a payment card or with a payment card account forconsumer users, the following illustrative steps, components or featuresare provided: the purchase or spend behavior of consumer users evidencedby data from the consumer user payment card account(s) is preferablytracked, analyzed, and/or reported, which then provides forsignificantly improved targeted content and targeted advertisement thatis data-confirmable by the purchase or spend behavior of consumer usersand the corresponding granularity of the data from their payment cardaccounts. Additionally and advantageously, consumer users payment cardaccount mechanism is operable to convey value to the user, for exampleby automatically applying an electronic financial credit related to anincentive to the consumer user through one of their payment cardaccounts registered with their profile within the platform of thepresent invention.

Multi-Merchant or Multi-Visit Incentive Products.

The virtualized computing and network-based platform, systems, andmethods of the present invention function to provide consumer users withincentives that are merchant-agnostic, i.e., they may work at more thanone merchant or more than one visit. For example, in an alternativeembodiment, platform is configured so that the consumer user having aregistered consumer user account with at least one consumer user paymentcard account associated therewith, and having a user profile within theplatform, when a consumer user pays a predetermined amount $X andreceive an incentive worth $X multiplied by Y, which generates a creditfor the multiplied digital incentive (up to a maximum or cap that ispredetermined), wherein the multiplied digital incentive value usable in$X increments for each transaction at any merchant in the platform'snetwork. Following the steps of purchasing or otherwise activating viaclick-select or other GUI in a web site or mobile app, a consumer usercan visit a platform-registered merchant (digitally online or physicallyin a merchant location) and automatically receive a digital incentive ina predetermined amount (e.g., $10) and this repeats until up to amaximum predetermined amount or cap (e.g., $200, which is 20 multipliedby $10) worth of digital incentives are aggregated or used. In analternative embodiment, platform is configured so that the consumer userhaving a registered consumer user account with at least one consumeruser payment card account associated therewith, and having a userprofile within the platform, pay $X and receive $X as digital incentivewhenever the consumer user visits merchant A until the end of B timeperiod. For example, once activated by purchase or otherwise, a consumeruser as patron of a restaurant (merchant A) automatically receives thedigital incentive each time they transact within the predetermined timeperiod B. There are other permutations of multi-merchant and multi-visitdigital incentive packages that can be formulated; preferably, merchantusers of the platform select predetermined digital incentive packagesoffered by the platform after their registration to participate assponsoring merchants for a merchant subscription service fee in onebusiness model implementation of the present invention, and/or for acustomized digital incentive package having a corresponding customizedfee.

The present invention systems, methods, and platform provide forautomated customer loyalty and/or rewards programs that function on,through, and/or in association with payment card accounts of consumerusers, preferably those consumer users that are registered toparticipate in the platform, and who have a customer profile and haveregistered at least one consumer user payment card account, therebyproviding for automated and integrated functionality with any activityfor payments of those at least one consumer user payment card account.Thus, the spend behavior evidenced by the activity for payments of thoseat least one consumer user payment card account is providedautomatically and stored within the database(s) associated with theplatform and the at least one server computer of the system, illustratedin FIG. 1. The spend behavior includes at least the amount of thepurchase and detailed information about the goods and/or servicesincluded in each purchase, date and time of purchase, location ofpurchase (or indication of online website- or mobile app-basedpurchase), and combinations thereof. The platform for targeted digitalincentives of the present invention provides for spend or visit basedprograms where the consumer user earns a digital incentive for spendbehavior, wherein the spend behavior related digital incentives areselected from the following activities: spend at the merchant directlyassociated with the initial digital incentive (a first merchant), spendat other merchants, earn a reward at the first merchant, earn anotherreward currency, such as a notional value currency. Notional valuecurrencies are useable by consumer users at one or more merchantsaffiliated within the integrated platform for marketing, advertising,and management of digital incentives with more than one otherwiseunrelated merchants who are participating within the platform. Also,points based currencies redeemable at various places or for variousgoods and services.

The systems and methods of the present invention also function toprovide consumer users the ability to enroll multiple payment cards intheir profile and have spent on any of them aggregate up to theirbenefit on the profile level.

In a business model application of the present invention, the platformaccess is provided in exchange for payment by consumer users and/ormerchant users for subscription-based services which allow access andprofile management and maintenance during the subscription servicesperiod. In one example of the business method model, each of theconsumer users pays a subscription fee on a periodic basis (e.g.,monthly) for access to incentives (offers and rewards) and privilegesuseable at platform-affiliated or registered merchants.

Marketing Products Connect to Customer Rewards Program.

A differentiator from the prior art is that marketing incentive productsprovided by the present invention platform, systems and methods thatmerchant clients or registered merchants with the platform use toadvertise to potential new customers, also drive customer memberships intheir rewards program in a seamless and integrated manner, withoutrequiring additional steps, documentation, or registration by thecustomer, since the consumer user registers with the platform of thepresent invention, creates a single profile, registers at least onecustomer user payment card account with the platform, and isautomatically registered for all participating merchant members andtheir merchant rewards programs. For example, if a business sends anaudience a $10 incentive, those potential customers from that audiencethat accept the digital incentive, register with the present inventionplatform in a single registration as described herein, and automaticallyand immediately receive the benefit of that digital incentive, and areautomatically enrolled in that merchant's rewards program withoutrequiring a redundant, or second registration step or action by theconsumer user, according to the present invention. Thus, the presentinvention provides for consumer user interaction with the platform, andthe ad or marketing product digital incentive received and used by theconsumer user provide for automatic enrollment and registration inmerchant-specific reward programs or membership listing or othermechanism of any kind that allows merchant to have access to thatconsumer user's spend behavior data and/or to communicate with them(e.g. through email or otherwise) in the future regarding advertising,digital or other incentives, awards, rewards, coupons, and combinationsthereof, and to track the efficacy of those communications by comparisonwith the corresponding consumer user spend behavior data, includingtrends, patterns, confirming specific actions with respect tocommunications in time, frequency and type of spend, and combinationsthereof

Protecting Access to the Payment Data.

The platform, systems and methods of the present invention protectaccess to the payment data from any and all payment data sources,including but not limited to card networks (e.g., VISA, MASTERCARD,AMERICAN EXPRESS, DISCOVER), payment processors associated withmerchants, financial institutions and card issuers, Point of Sale (POS)and card acceptance terminals (such as terminals from VERIFONE paymenttransaction company), and any combinations thereof.

Methods the Facilitate Redemption of an Offer or Incentive Through aPayment Card Account.

Prior art provides for many consumers to purchase offers fromdistributors, like e-commerce marketplaces GROUPON or LIVINGSOCIAL,wherein redemption is managed through the presentation of a voucher bythe consumer to the merchant. In most cases, this process is manual, anduse a physical paper voucher to present to the merchant for receipt ofthe goods and/or services. In prior art electronic vouchers, consumerspresent an electronic voucher through a GUI representation of thevoucher, e.g., a mobile app, for example an app for e-commercemarketplace GROUPON. Prior art methods also provide for merchants tomanage redemption through a device provided by the distributor (e.g.,e-commerce marketplace GROUPON), however this method still requires amanual entry or other input, such as by scanning a bar code; anotherprocess provides for a device provided by the distributor at merchantlocations at the POS that employs proximity-based detection if a user ofa mobile app is present (e.g. an app for e-commerce marketplaceGROUPON), and if so, it facilitates redemption of the electronicvoucher.

By contrast to the prior art, the present invention systems and methodsfacilitate redemption of offers and incentives (“deals”), includingthose provided by third party distributors (such as e-commercemarketplace GROUPON), by allowing consumer users to link the offer totheir payment card account. Advantageously, the present inventionprovides for a transaction at one merchant to activate an incentive,offer, or reward redeemable at a second merchant in the platform. Thetwo merchants optionally have an agreement under the platform for these“referral” incentives, offers, or rewards. Incentives, offers, orrewards are also issued according to one embodiment of the presentinvention in connection with making a reservation and/or making an orderfor goods or services, by way of example and not limitation, orderingfood delivery, food pickup, a ride from a transportation app (e.g.,UBER, LYFT), a taxi, or any other order for goods and/or services. Thereare several methods providing for redemption of offers and incentivesand for managing redemption. By way of example, a consumer userpurchases an offer through a deal distributor (e.g., online marketplaceAMAZON LOCAL), wherein the deal is provided by a third party on behalfof a merchant; the system provides an electronic voucher by transmittinga message or presenting on a GUI of a computer display or mobilecommunications device, such as a smartphone, wherein the consumer userreceives an electronic voucher including a code or link having anidentifier; the consumer user, via a website interactive GUI or mobiledevice app, enters the identifier if already a member of the platform,or if not a member first registers or joins the platform; the systemautomatically associates or links the offer or deal represented by theinputted identifier with the consumer user profile on the platform, andwith any enrolled payment card accounts associated with the platform;the redemption is automatically executed by the platform of the presentinvention with the next transaction by the consumer user with themerchant using an enrolled payment card account. In another example, themethod steps are similar to the first example described above, however,the user at the time of presentation of the offer or deal to themerchant has not yet linked the offer to their payment card account; inthis example, the system accepts the identifier via at least one inputmechanism or device at the merchant location, physical and/or virtual;in one embodiment, the consumer user inputs the identifier in a tabletcomputer that presents platform, with or without branding or identifierof the merchant's customer rewards program; this overall redemptionfacilitation mechanism is also used to track customer spend behavior anddata capture, and provides a way to communicate with the consumer userin the future even if the merchant does not have a structured rewardsprogram. In this use case example, the consumer user enrolls in theplatform by providing a communication attribute (by way of example andnot limitation, email, and/or phone number for text message) andelectronic payment account number or identifier (e.g., enrollment isactivated by the step of providing input via swiping on a card reader ormagnetic strip mechanism, touch or proximity activation mechanism, smartchip, etc., or other mechanism including but not limited to providing aphoto or digital image of the user); an action is taken to link thepresented offer to the users Spring account, for example, in anautomated method with code entry, bar code scan, QR code scan, or a justa button or GUI interactive selection to “Link Offer”; thereafter, theconsumer user completes a purchase transaction with the merchant usingan enrolled payment card account, and the platform administersredemption as described hereinabove. Another use case example providesfor the merchant not to utilize this platform redemption mechanism tomanage the crediting portion of the redemption of the incentive, butinstead deducts the value of the incentive from the customer'stransaction at the time in-store. So, in this case, the platform doesnot automatically manage the redemption or crediting of the incentiveback to the consumer user's payment card account. But since the consumeruser is enrolled then the platform will automatically track and reporttheir payment behavior with their payment card account so that theplatform and the merchant may track customer spend related to theredemption transaction and downstream. Notably, in addition to enablingredemption by linking an offer to the payment card account, the merchantalso automatically through the platform obtains a member in its customerloyalty or rewards program and/or database and the consumer user obtainsthe benefits of this membership.

Another redemption mechanism provided by the present invention is thecombination of a payment card account mechanism with a softwareapplication to a specific “item-level” product or service. Notably, theprior art payment card account data streams on their own do not identifythe exact item or product purchased for any given transaction. Thepresent invention provides for automatic redemption of these specificitem-level transactions which are specific to a product or service,through the various mechanisms described herein. By way of example andnot limitation, one category of mechanisms provides for a member of themerchant staff to confirm a purchase by the user of the eligible item,product, and/or service through a predetermined, platform-supportedmechanism, such as activation of a code, button, functional identifier,virtual button, GUI input identifier, active icon, etc., on a tabletcomputer or consumer user's mobile communications device or smartphonesoftware application (app), etc. Another category includes platformintegration with an item level data source, such as the merchant's POSor branded loyalty platform; preferably, the systems and methods of thepresent invention provide for automatically creating a multiplicity ofcustomer user accounts on the platform wherein the merchant hasaggregated its proprietary customer user account information from aloyalty program, a rewards program, a customer mailing list, etc. byimporting the aggregated data by the at least one server computer and/ordatabase associated with the systems, methods, and platform of thepresent invention.

Yet another redemption mechanism provided by the present invention isredemption based on location (is the offer accepted at the store wherethe user transacted?), transaction date (is the offer still valid andnot blacked out on the given date?), transaction time (offers can besetup to be good at only set times of the day), minimum purchase (is thetransaction amount sufficient to redeem the offer?).

Purchase Financing

For brick-and-mortar stores, it has heretofore been difficult to providepoint-of-sale financing to consumers. Some businesses provideopportunities for financing by providing systems through point of sale(POS) terminals; however, these systems often require several minutes tofill out personal information, wait for loan approval, and agree toterms of a loan. In contrast, the present invention provides a newsystem with no analog before the advent of the internet or computertechnology and provides a solution to the problem of the laboriousprocess of signing up for loans at a POS by providing a streamlinedsystem that does not require a long sign-up and approval process.Additionally, while some online systems have implemented financingoptions that are available at online checkout, the systems do not extendto point-of-sale systems for in-store counterparts, they do not providefor shopping behavior tracking between online and in-store customers,and these systems do not provide for financing options for additional,non-enrolled merchants.

In one embodiment, a financing system detects that a purchase has beenmade by a consumer and detects a corresponding charge applied to theconsumer's account. In response, the financing system provides financingoptions for the purchase. In this embodiment, when the system detects apurchase has been made (via a POS system, web browser, or other gatewayor processor), the system delivers a communication to the consumer viathe point of sale, web browser, email, text message, or other avenue ofcommunication, wherein the communication includes an offer to financethe transaction (e.g., through deferred payment, including a variety ofpotential deferred payment schedules such as monthly payments, paymentsover a preset number of installments at specified time intervals,wherein the payments are charged with or without interest). If the offeris declined, the system makes no financing action. In the event that aconsumer accepts the financing offer, a full amount of the purchase isrefunded to the consumer's account and a credit or deferred paymentaccount is opened with the financing system for the consumer. Theconsumer is then billed according to terms of the financing agreement.

The systems and methods of the present invention provide for customerspend data to be automatically obtained directly from the electronicpayment card networks or associations (e.g., VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICANEXPRESS, or DISCOVER); additionally or alternatively, data is acquiredfrom issuers or processors of the electronic payment cards. Upondetection of the spend data, the financing system delivers acommunication to a consumer based on device or contact informationassociated with the account number of the spend data. In one embodiment,if the account number (e.g., the credit card number, debit card number,device identification number, or other identifying information attachedto the transaction) is not registered within the system, the system isoperable to automatically enroll the account number with the system andcreate a consumer profile for the consumer account number. Based oncontact information in a new consumer profile or in an existing consumerprofile, the system transmits a financing offer. For example, thecontact information in one embodiment includes at least one of an emailaddress, a phone number, a device identification number, or a consumerprofile identifier. The financing offer is operable to be transmittedvia a text message, phone call, email, push notification, instantmessage, pop-up within a mobile application, notification through a POSsystem, or any other communication method that is operable to reach aconsumer associated with a consumer profile. The financing system isoperable to receive a response to the communication, for example apacket transmission via “accept” or “reject” buttons within a mobileapplication, a text message response, a push-tone over a phone call, orother form of communication. The financing offer further includes termsof the financing, including a message, an indication of an approved loanamount, an interest rate, a repayment plan, a minimum monthly payment,or any other terms required for financing the purchase. Additionally,the financing offer is operable to include multiple financing options.For example, the financing options in one embodiment include: monthlypayments for 3 months at an annual interest rate (APR) of 20%, monthlypayments for 6 months at an APR of 21%, or monthly payments for 12months at an APR of 22%. Each option includes an indication of thecalculated monthly payments, total interest, and total future amount tobe paid. In one embodiment, financing offers further include at leastone of a cash back offer, a discount offer, or any other offer,incentive, or reward operable to be paired with the transaction. In afurther embodiment, a financing offer further includes one or more of abenefit, offer, incentive, reward, or discount in combination with oneor more financing options (e.g., a fixed discount with payments at a 20%interest rate, four quarterly payments at 10% interest rate, or a 15%discount for two payments at 0% APR). Notably, time periods forrepayment and payment plans are operable to be adjusted or calculated tomeet any desired length of time by a merchant and/or a consumer. Forexample, in one embodiment, a merchant sets three different paymentplans available to a consumer, including a 30-day delayed payment plan,an installment payment plan with the following terms—25% at the time ofthe purchase and three 25% installments two, four and six weeks later,and a monthly installment plan over a preset number of selected months.In another embodiment, installment plans are offered in quarterly,bi-annual, annual, and semi-annual options. In a further embodiment, thefinancing offer is operable to be governed by a set financing formula,wherein the system is operable to receive input from a consumeridentifying a desired delayed payment time and/or a payment planinstallment, and wherein the system operable to calculate an interestrate and/or an upfront cost based on the set financing formula and theconsumer desired payment time and/or desired payment plan installment.

Accounts are identified by the platform, in one embodiment, by matchinga payment method, a phone number, consumer account information, consumerprofile information, a name, an address, a user name, a digital walletaddress, or any other identifying information to stored user data and/orconsumer accounts and/or consumer profiles.

In another embodiment, the platform provides a “Buy Now, Pay Later”financing option, wherein payment for a transaction is not charged orapproved for a set time frame. The time frame is determined, forexample, by a preset time interval offer from the merchant or byshipping, handling, or delivery progress or notification, or by termsand agreements for installment or financing payments. In one embodiment,the platform is in network connection with at least one shipping,handling, and/or delivery service, wherein credits, debits, withdraws,holds, offers, incentives, or rewards for an account are governed byrules associated with package purchasing and fulfillment. For example,the platform provides an offer to purchase an item using a connectedpayment account at a 10% discount when using a “Buy Now, Pay Later.”Upon acceptance and purchase of the offer via an enrolled account, theplatform is operable to credit the account for an amount of thepurchase. Upon receiving an indication that the item has been fulfilledand delivered to a final destination or by reaching a preset timeinterval, the platform is operable to charge the account for 90% of thetotal transaction amount. Financing offers or other offers, incentives,and/or rewards are operable to include any variation of terms, amounts,time frames, values, or combinations known in the art of digitalincentives or consumer finance. For example, the offer, incentive, orreward is one of: a cash back fixed amount, a cash back percentage of atransaction, a fixed rate financing offer, a variable rate financingoffer, a delayed or no-interest financing offer (e.g., a 0% interestoffer), a daily payment plan, a quarterly payment play, a yearly paymentplan, a payment plan with an upfront cost, a payment plan with variablepayment amounts, or installment payments.

The platform is operable to target financing and installment offersbased on user purchase or spending history, location data, browsingactivity, demographics, number of payment methods, enrolled paymentaccounts, enrolled loyalty systems, frequency of system interaction,frequency of payment method or loyalty system usage, qualificationsidentified by loyalty system or third parties, analytics based onplatform usage, or any other method of identifying and targeting usersfor an offer, incentive, or reward known in the art of digital marketingand advertising. For example, the platform is operable to identify auser with a loyalty account to Merchant T and with a credit score of 650or other internal credit criteria or model utilized by the platform, andbased on this information provide an offer for financing a futurepurchase at Merchant T. In another embodiment, based on a receivedrequest from a Merchant W account, the platform is operable tofacilitate and communicate a financing offer and a 10% cash back offerto users who are enrolled in the platform but are not enrolled in theMerchant W's loyalty system and/or who do not have a private labelpayment method.

Alternatively, a consumer is operable to initiate a transaction,register with the system, and set up financing with the financing systemthrough a POS computer device, such as a tablet. For example, a consumeris operable to swipe a credit card at a POS tablet, and if the cardnumber is registered with the system, the tablet presents a financingoffer from the financing system, which the consumer can accept ordecline. If the card number is not registered with the system, thetablet is operable to either enroll the card number within the systemautomatically or upon manual request from the tablet user. The system isfurther operable to offer via the tablet a financing offer prior toregistration with the system.

Notably, the present invention provides for the initiation of financingthrough any merchant, even those not registered with the system, sincethe system is based on detecting a transaction history of a consumer andinterfacing and financing with the consumer directly. In one embodiment,the system is operable to detect consumer spend data at non-enrolledmerchants by interfacing with electronic payment card networks orassociations (e.g., VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, or DISCOVER) andsend a notification to the consumer with financing options.

Spend data is further not limited to POS interactions but additionallyincludes website-based transactions. In one embodiment, a merchantwebsite includes a gateway that is in network communication with thefinancing system. Upon detecting an initiation of a transaction throughthe website, the system is operable to offer financing options to theconsumer. If an account number provided to the website is enrolled withthe system and associated with a consumer profile, the financing systemis operable to send a notification to the consumer indicating financingoptions. If the account number is not enrolled with the system, thesystem is operable to automatically enroll the account number or enrollthe account number based on manual input from a website consumer. Inaddition, the system is operable to provide financing offers prior toregistration.

In one embodiment, the financing system does not include access tofinancial accounts directly but instead connects the consumer profile toat least one external entity, such as a bank or other financialinstitution, for handling the payments and financing. Alternatively, thefinancing system includes access to a system-controlled financialaccount and is operable to credit and charge a consumer-controlledfinancial account associated with at least one consumer profile. In oneembodiment, the full amount of the purchase is credited to a bankaccount or credit account associated with the purchase, and payments aresetup to automatically charge a required amount at an agreed uponinterval. In another embodiment, a portion of the purchase amount iscredited to the bank account or credit account, a bill or invoice iscommunicated to the consumer associated with the consumer profile at theagreed upon interval, and the consumer then manually pays the requiredamount.

The financing system further provides banks, other payment card issuersand/or third-party financing systems to provide direct methods forfinancing purchases. In one embodiment, a bank detects that a purchasehas been made on a line of credit held by a client. The bank is able tosend a financing offer through the Spring platform or directly to thedevice indicating an approved financing amount, terms, and conditions.Upon acceptance, a full amount of the purchase is refunded to the creditline, and a charge is applied from the Spring platform based on thefinancing terms of the offer (e.g., monthly payments at 20% APR). In afurther embodiment, when a bank detects a charge through a debit card toa checking or savings account, the bank or the platform is operable toapprove the account holder instantly, whereas when a credit card orcredit line is used, the platform or bank determines a financing offer(or determines not to provide a financing offer) based on past credithistory, a credit score, or other financial analytics corresponding tothe financial account holder.

Some embodiments of the invention include financing offers that aregenerated and transmitted before a purchase is made. For example, in oneembodiment, the financing system is operable to transmit a financingoffer to a consumer of a consumer profile including a pre-approved loanamount and interest rate. The financing offer is also operable to belinked to a specific merchant, store, geographic location, or timeperiod. In one embodiment, a consumer receives an offer through anapplication on a mobile device, wherein the offer indicates that theconsumer is approved for a loan of $1,000 at an annual percentage rate(APR) of 0% when shopping at the store Crate & Barrel. In anotherembodiment, the offer indicates that the consumer is approved for a loanof $2,000 at an APR of 0% at stores within Woodfield Mall shopping mall.

FIG. 87 illustrates a diagram of one embodiment of the financing offer,wherein a consumer enrolled in the platform of the present inventionmakes a purchase with an enrolled payment card at an in-store merchantand an offer for financing is presented to a mobile device of theconsumer. In this embodiment, the consumer already has a line of creditopen with the system, which allows the consumer to accept the financinginstantly.

FIG. 88 illustrates another diagram of one embodiment of the financingoffer, wherein a consumer enrolled in the platform of the presentinvention makes a purchase with an enrolled credit card with an in-storemerchant and an offer for financing is presented to a mobile device viaemail, text message, website, push notification, chat message, or anyother method of delivering the financing offer to the mobile device, awebsite, or other medium of digital communication. In this embodiment,the consumer does not already have a line of credit open with thesystem, requiring the consumer to apply for financing before the systemwill provide a financing offer.

FIG. 89 illustrates another diagram of one embodiment of the financingoffer, wherein the system is operable to offer the consumer a financingoffer before making a purchase. In one embodiment, the financing offeris presented to the consumer based on determined in-store or onlinebrowsing and purchasing behavior.

The financing system is operable to calculate loans independently orcommunicate with third party systems in order to determine an approvedloan amount and interest rate. For example, in one embodiment, thefinancing system is in network communication with a credit bureau systemand is operable to request a credit report corresponding to anindividual associated with a consumer account. Based on an obtainedcredit report, an identification of the amount currently loaned to theconsumer by the system, and a payment history of the consumer throughthe system, the financing system is operable to calculate a risk scoreand determine whether to offer a loan to a consumer account, the amountof the loan, the interest rate of the loan, a payment plan for the loan,and any other financing terms. In another embodiment, loan historyinformation about the consumer is transmitted to a third party system,and the third party system handles the calculation and formulation ofloan terms. The third party then communicates the loan calculation andterms to the system, to another party financing the loan, or directly tothe consumer.

Additionally, the system is operable to integrate with an externalrewards, offers, or incentives program and facilitate redemption ofoffers, incentives, and rewards corresponding to enrolled merchantsbased on financial activity. In one embodiment, a consumer financialaccount is operable to be linked to a merchant for redemption of offerscorresponding to rewards points that were accrued through use of afinancial account and a card supplied by a bank. For example, the Springplatform or an issuing bank is operable to provide an inventive offer,wherein a consumer is provided an option for linking a credit card to anoffer from Bed Bath & Beyond allowing redemption of 1000 rewards pointsfor a 20 dollar reward that will then be applied to a transactionthrough the merchant in real time or near-real time via a subsequentexecution of an account or statement credit. Notably, this occurs in amore streamlined manner than traditional rewards services through creditcards. Whereas in other systems, an offer (e.g., a 5% off reward forpurchases at BestBuy) is redeemed by a user, a purchase is made, and asignificant period of time later the reward amount is credited to thefinancial account (e.g., a 5 dollar credit from a 100 dollar purchase),the present invention provides for instant redemption of offers throughthe Spring platform, which detects in real-time a purchase made with anassociated consumer account and automatically applies the redeemedoffer, reward, or incentive to the consumer financial account. In afurther embodiment, merchants are operable to provide offers,incentives, and rewards directly to the consumer account withoutredeeming an additional offer, reward, or incentive through the paymentcard issuer (e.g., through a rewards points program). In one example,Brookstone provides an offer to a consumer account through the Springplatform for a $30 discount on an in-store purchase. Upon acceptance ofthe offer by a consumer of an enrolled consumer account and detection ofa qualifying purchase, the amount is automatically provided as a rewardor “cash back” to the consumer account by the Spring platform, and anamount of rewards points are deducted from the rewards points balance ofthe enrolled consumer account based on the provided offer. In oneembodiment, cash back and other financial rewards are provided in oneembodiment by the Spring platform directly, wherein other rewardsentities provide equivalent compensatory payment to the Spring platform.In an alternative embodiment, the Spring platform acts as anintermediary system between the consumer account and the merchant, bank,or other entity, wherein the Spring platform facilitates notifications,requests for payment, and settlement of payment between two parties. Inone embodiment, the Spring platform interfaces with a merchantprocessor, payment network (e.g., a card association including VISA,DISCOVER, AMERICAN EXPRESS), or bank to indicate transaction, credit,debit, or withdraw amount for a specific account or consumer, whereinthe merchant processor, payment network, and/or the bank handlesexecution of the transaction, credit, debit, or withdraw amount.

FIG. 90 illustrates one embodiment of the offers, rewards, andincentives redemption system, wherein a consumer is operable to link anoffer to a consumer account based on rewards points accrued by theconsumer and provided by a credit issuing bank. The system is operableto present a list of offers, rewards, and incentives available to aconsumer account according to available points or relevant merchantsaccording to consumer behavior analytics. Once a reward is linked to theaccount, a corresponding amount of “cash back” is redeemed on thepurchase, and a corresponding amount of points deducted from theconsumer accounts rewards points balance. For example, in oneembodiment, credit card rewards points from a financial institution,such as AMERICAN EXPRESS, are operable to be redeemed through theplatform and an offer, incentive, or reward applied to the platform useraccount directly. Upon detecting or determining a transaction is made,the platform is operable to automatically apply or credit an enrolledpayment account based on the redeemed offer, incentive, or reward. In analternative embodiment, a rewards points offer is generated and providedby a non-financial entity. In one example, an enrolled STARBUCKSmerchant provides an offer to a consumer account allowing points accruedthrough purchases at STARBUCKS to be redeemed at an APPLE store. Upondetection of a transaction with the consumer account at a location witha redeemed offer, any cash back or other offers, incentives, or rewardsare applied to the consumer account and/or the transaction directly.

FIG. 92 illustrates one embodiment of a financing offer, incentive, orreward for a specific merchant. In one embodiment, the platform providesa “Buy Now, Pay Later” promotion to a registered user, wherein theplatform is operable to identify a user account meeting desired criteria(e.g., criteria based on spending habits, credit history, credit score,determined physical locations, web browsing activity, shopping patterns,determined demographics) and notify a user of an offer, incentive, orreward. The illustrated embodiment depicts a financing offer, whereinthe platform is operable to open or apply a $1,000 line of credit for aspecific user account, and wherein the platform is operable to reimbursea purchase on a payment card and/or provide payment through the systemdirectly. For example, in one embodiment, the platform provides afinancing offer for use at a specific merchant to at least one useraccount, and upon receiving notification of acceptance of the offer, theoffer is attached or associated with the at least one account. Upondetection of transaction with a payment method associated with the atleast one account at the specific merchant, the platform is operable tocredit the account for the transaction amount and begin financingoperations according to the preset conditions of the financing offer(e.g., the card is not charged any payment for 6 months and/or ischarged installments with or without interest). Alternatively, theplatform is operable to directly handle purchases, wherein a digital,virtual, or physical payment method is directly linked to the consumeraccount of the platform, and wherein purchases, offers, incentives,and/or rewards are redeemed and charged via with the digital, virtual,or physical payment method. Additional attachment payment methods areoperable to be charged for any financing or purchasing operations. Forexample, a user account includes a credit of $5 for a first merchant.Payment at the merchant with a platform-based digital card automaticallyredeems the $5 credit, and any amount in a transaction that is greaterthan the $5 is passed along to a second payment method (e.g., a creditcard, debit card, or digital wallet) also associated with the useraccount.

FIG. 93 illustrates another embodiment of a “Buy Now, Pay Later” system,wherein upon redemption of the financing offer, a notification is sentto a user account via email, text message, chat message, postal mail,phone call, or any other alert mechanism including a confirmation of thefinancing offer redemption as well as terms for the financing offer. Inone embodiment, the financing offer is presented to a user before makinga purchase. For example, the financing offer is targeted based onconsumer profile information, such as browsing history, purchasehistory, physical location history, demographics, etc., wherein the useraccount is preapproved based on these profile characteristics. Inanother embodiment, the financing offer is presented to a user upondetection of a purchase at a merchant. For example, in one embodiment,the platform determines a transaction has been made at Merchant T for$500 with a payment method associated with a user account. Upondetermining that the user account qualifies for a financing offer, theplatform communicates the financing offer to the user account. Uponreceiving an acceptance of the financing offer, the platform creditsthat payment method according to the terms of the financing offer (e.g.,a credit of the full amount of the transaction, a credit of 25% of thetransaction, a credit of a specific monetary value ($10), or any otherfinancing agreement known in the art). Notably, the financing offer isfurther operable to be any offer, incentive, or reward known in the artof digital marketing.

FIGS. 94 and 95 illustrates one embodiment of a customized financingoffer through the platform according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, after detectingor determining that a transaction has been made, the platform isoperable to send a notification to at least one user offering financingoptions. In one embodiment, payments are operable to be based on anyoffers dictated by the merchant, the platform, or other managingaccount. For example, a “Get it first. Pay Later.” embodiment providestwo options from the platform, including an option for delaying paymentuntil 14 days after a confirmed delivery of an item and an option fordelaying payment for multiple months with an added fee or surcharge. Inan installment embodiment, the platform provides a fixed rate formonthly payments to finance the purchase, wherein the platform isfurther operable to calculate and charge interest based on the paymentsand the purchase amount. Upon selection of either of any of thefinancing options presented, the platform is operable to reimburse apayment method according to the financing agreement terms selected. Forexample, if an upfront payment is required that is 25% of a purchase,the platform is operable to credit the payment method for 75% of thepurchase and charge the payment method for further payments according tothe financing offer selected. Notably, the platform is operable toperform these operations for both physical, in-store transactions aswell as digital or online transactions.

Preferably, the platform is operable to offer a method of paying via theplatform instead of paying via a traditional payment method. Forexample, in one embodiment, the platform is operable to identify anauthorization transaction and/or identify a payment method of at leastone user, and following the identification, the platform is operable toprompt a user (via a POS terminal, tablet, mobile device, website,pop-up etc.) to pay with funds, rewards, cash back, points, or otherequivalent balances and incentives attached to the at least one account.If the platform receives an acceptance of this prompt, the correspondingoffer, incentive, reward, funds, cash, points, or other balance isadjusted and/or redeemed, and any corresponding amount of thetransaction is reduced and/or processed through the platform directly.In another embodiment, the platform intercepts a transaction, wherein apurchase is not passed through the payment method directly, but insteadthe transaction is transferred to the platform, and a user account ischarged through the platform either immediately or according to anyoffer, incentive, reward, financing offer, or installment offer.

FIG. 96 illustrates one embodiment of a cash back rewards program,wherein the platform is operable to offer redemption of points,currency, cash, cash-value credit, and/or other rewards managed by theplatform, external loyalty systems, third party rewards systems,merchant-specific programs, and/or other offers, incentives, and rewardsprograms. The platform is operable to make this offer available toconsumers by communicating, activating, and/or redeeming the offer basedon a targeted marketing campaign and/or following a determined purchase(e.g., directly converting a redeemed rewards currency or points into acash value credit for the transaction and/or applying the redeemedrewards currency or points after a transaction has processed).

FIG. 97 illustrates a loyalty program for a specific merchant, whereinrewards are offered based on spend activity; for example, after $250 ofspend activity, a $10 credit is associated with the user account,applied to a transaction, redeemed, activated, or otherwise enabled. Inanother example, credits, rewards, points, or other offers, incentives,or rewards are applied based on a percent of a purchase or spend amount;for example, rewards and/or points are earned at a rate of 5% for every$1 spent. A key aspect of platform includes, in one embodiment, trackingspend activity across all payment methods on a user account for one ormore loyalty or rewards programs, including private label credit card(PLCC) payment methods, and non-PLCC payment methods. Additionally, theloyalty program is operable to more broadly engage the user and, forexample integrate with user feedback, survey, and analytics tools,wherein spend activity and/or activity within the platform (e.g., rewardredemption) is captured, analyzed, and/or triggers, for example, a usersurvey to be communicated to the user account (e.g., via email, textmessage, chat message, postal mail, phone call, or push notification).The platform is operable to manage and communicate rewards progress foreach merchant individually and as a whole, and the platform is operableto manage and trigger surveys or other communication via email, text orSMS, native application on mobile devices or to a web site. In oneembodiment, the feedback and ratings are received via a mobileapplication or website via a GUI with selectors, sliders, buttons, orany other element known in the art of user experience design, asillustrated in FIG. 97.

FIG. 98 illustrates one embodiment of a co-brand, dual-brand, or privatelabel payment method registration system. In one embodiment, theplatform is operable to detect and/or determine a purchase using atleast one registered payment method for a user account and, upondetermining availability of a branded (co-brand, dual-brand, privatelabel, etc.) payment method (e.g., a private label credit card for themerchant), the platform is operable to generate a notification andsystem for registration for the branded payment method. The platform isoperable to offer with the notification and registration system at leastone offer, incentive, or reward that is tied to or separate from rewardsof the branded payment method. For example, in one embodiment, theplatform notifies the user of a financing offer enabled by transferringthe purchase to a private label credit card. Upon detection that theprivate label credit card is not associated with the targeted useraccount, the platform is operable to offer an application and/orregistration mechanism for obtaining the private label credit card,wherein the platform and/or the registration method is operable tocapture, receive, and/or transmit user personal information necessaryfor determining approval for the credit card and/or for registration.Once the private label credit card has been added to the user accountand/or the user account has been approved, the financing offer ispresented to the user account. The financing offer is alternatively anyoffer, incentive, or reward known in the art. In one embodiment, theregistration method and/or any offers, incentives, or rewards capturesinformation and registers a user account for a loyalty system inaddition to or instead of a branded payment method.

Connected Payment Accounts

Notably, the platform of the present invention is operable, in oneembodiment, to enroll one or more payment accounts (e.g., an accountnumber such as a credit card or debit card number) with the platform andassociate the one or more payment accounts with a user account and/or auser profile. The platform is further operable to debit, credit, holdfunds, verify transactions, and track and analyze payment activityacross each of the connected payment accounts. In one embodiment, theplatform is operable to credit a first payment account for the amount ofa recent transaction and charge a second account for a correspondingamount, wherein the corresponding amount is, for example, a full amountof the transaction, 25% of the transaction, 50% of the transaction, theamount of a first payment in a financed offer, the amount of a downpayment on a financed offer, or a fee corresponding to a financed offer.For example, in one embodiment, a user makes a purchase at Merchant Tusing a first enrolled credit card. The platform generates andcommunicates an incentive offer of 5% off for using Credit Card T, aPrivate Label Credit Card (PLCC) tied to Merchant T. If the user has anenrolled Credit Card T and the offer is accepted, the platform creditsan amount of the full transaction to the first enrolled credit card, andan amount equal to 95% percent of the transaction amount is charged toCredit Card T. If the user does not have an enrolled Credit Card T, theplatform is operable to provide a system for applying or registering forthe card. Notably, the incentive offer is operable to be any offer,incentive, reward, or financing terms, as disclosed herein; thetransactions are operable to occur via one or more financial transactionand settlement institutions (e.g., a gateway, processing network, bank,or clearing house); and the platform is operable to apply, debit,withdraw, or communicate one or more flat or rate-based fees during eachof these transactions.

Notably, PLCC embodiments of the present invention, dual cardembodiments (e.g., PLCC with purchases not locked to a particularmerchant or a PLCC with offers, incentives, and rewards specific to amerchant), and/or co-branded embodiments (e.g., PLCC with purchaseslocked to one or more merchants or a PLCC with offers, incentives, orrewards specific to two or more merchants) are advantageous overtraditional payment systems, wherein lines of credit and paymentaccounts are digitally managed by multiple different entities and/orhave no interoperability for managing purchase financing, offers,incentives, or rewards. Particularly, the platform of the presentinvention provides, in one embodiment, a way to seamlessly transferpayments between financial accounts seamlessly and in real time ornear-real time as well as facilitate digital offers, incentives,rewards, and purchase financing.

In another embodiment, the platform provides a multi-tender loyaltysystem by managing points, offers, incentives, and rewards transfersbetween connected payment accounts and loyalty accounts. For example, auser account with either or both of an enrolled or non-enrolled PLCCcredit card and/or an enrolled non-PLCC credit card is able to earnrewards offered under the PLCC credit card program even when paying withthe non-PLCC credit card. In one embodiment, the payment methods provideoffers, rewards, or incentives at different rates. For example, apurchase at Merchant T with a Merchant T PLCC credit card awards $5 ofrewards currency value to the user account, whereas a purchase atMerchant T with a non-PLCC credit card awards $1 of rewards currencyvalue to the user account. In another embodiment, the platform isfurther operable to manage and credit a loyalty system (e.g., a rewardscurrency based system, a points-based system, a cash-back system) basedon purchases from either or both PLCC accounts and non-PLCC accounts,wherein transactions through merchant-locked payment methods andnon-merchant locked payment methods are converted or translated intoloyalty program offers, incentives, and/or rewards. For example, upondetecting, processing, or receiving a purchase from either a Merchant TPLCC and/or a non-PLCC credit card, the platform is operable to adjustan amount of loyalty points from a Merchant T loyalty account. Notably,the offers, incentives, and rewards further include financing andinstallment offers; payment accounts include debit accounts, creditaccounts, digital payment methods, virtual currency, cryptocurrency,loyalty points, or other accounts operable to manage purchase orredemption transactions; and the multi-tender system is not constrictedto only a single merchant. For example, in one embodiment, purchases atMerchant W with a PLCC or dual card for Merchant T earn offers,incentives, and rewards for Merchant T and Merchant W. Further, theplatform is operable to offer a $10 reward for a Merchant W loyaltyaccount for using a financing option on a purchase at Merchant T using aMerchant T PLCC.

Payments, statement credits, instant credits, instant debits, batchcredits, batch debits, deposits, withdraws, holds, and other financialoperations of the present invention are, in one embodiment, performedvia any financial processing system, such as via the Automated ClearingHouse (ACH) network (payment rails), wire transfer, Same Day ACH, realtime or near-real time payment (RTP) systems (e.g., VISA DIRECT,INSTAPAY, THE CLEARING HOUSE RTP), including Peer-to-Peer (P2P)solutions such as PAYPAL, PAYPAL INSTANT TRANSFER, VENMO, and ZELLE. Inanother embodiment, the processes occur in conjunction with or entirelyover a blockchain payment network, such as BITCOIN, ETHERIUM, orLITECOIN. In one embodiment, the blockchain payments or blockchaintransactions occur in real time or near-real time. In anotherembodiment, the platform generates or manages payments and transactionsvia virtual wallets, virtual payment accounts, virtual currency, digitalcurrency, or any other method of managing financial transactions via anetwork.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Referring now to the drawings in general, the illustrations are for thepurpose of describing a preferred embodiment of the invention and arenot intended to limit the invention thereto.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary virtualized computing system forembodiments of the present invention loyalty and rewards platform. FIG.1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the invention illustratinga computer system, generally described as 800, operating within acommunications network 810 and a plurality of computing devices 820,830, 840. In one embodiment of the invention, the computer systemsupporting the platform of the present invention 800 includes acloud-based network 810 for distributed communication via the network'swireless communication antenna 812 and processing by a plurality ofmobile communication computing devices 830. In another embodiment of theinvention, the computer system 800 is a virtualized computing systemcapable of executing any or all aspects of software and/or applicationcomponents presented herein on the computing devices 820, 830, 840. Incertain aspects, the computer system 800 may be implemented usinghardware or a combination of software and hardware, either in adedicated computing device, or integrated into another entity, ordistributed across multiple entities or computing devices.

By way of example, and not limitation, the computing devices 820, 830,840 are intended to represent various forms of digital devices 820, 840,850 and mobile devices 830, such as a server, blade server, mainframe,mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, adesktop computer, a netbook computer, a tablet computer, a workstation,a laptop, and other similar computing devices; distributed mobilecommunication devices, in particular wireless network mobile computercommunication devices including but not limited to smartphone devicesand tablet computers are preferred at the time of the present inventionfor use by consumer users as described herein for interfacing with theplatform. The components shown here in FIG. 1, their connections andrelationships, and their functions, are meant to be exemplary only, andare not meant to limit implementations of the invention described and/orclaimed in this document.

In one embodiment, the computing device 820 includes components such asa processor 860, a system memory 862 having a random access memory (RAM)864 and a read-only memory (ROM) 866, and a system bus 868 that couplesthe memory 862 to the processor 860. In another embodiment, thecomputing device 830 may additionally include components such as astorage device 890 for storing the operating system 892 and one or moreapplication programs 894, a network interface unit 896, and/or aninput/output controller 898. Each of the components may be coupled toeach other through at least one bus 868. The input/output controller 898may receive and process input from, or provide output to, a number ofother devices 899, including, but not limited to, alphanumeric inputdevices, mice, electronic styluses, display units, touch screens, signalgeneration devices (e.g., speakers) or printers.

By way of example, and not limitation, the processor 860 may be ageneral-purpose microprocessor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)),a graphics processing unit (GPU), a microcontroller, a Digital SignalProcessor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), aField Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD),a controller, a state machine, gated or transistor logic, discretehardware components, or any other suitable entity or combinationsthereof that can perform calculations, process instructions forexecution, and/or other manipulations of information.

In another implementation, shown in FIG. 1, a computing device 840 mayuse multiple processors 860 and/or multiple buses 868, as appropriate,along with multiple memories 862 of multiple types (e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core).

Also, multiple computing devices may be connected, with each deviceproviding portions of the necessary operations (e.g., a server bank, agroup of blade servers, or a multi-processor system). Alternatively,some steps or methods may be performed by circuitry that is specific toa given function.

According to various embodiments, the computer system 800 may operate ina networked environment using logical connections to local and/or remotecomputing devices 820, 830, 840, 850 through a network 810. A computingdevice 830 may connect to a network 810 through a network interface unit896 connected to the bus 868. Computing devices may communicatecommunication media through wired networks, direct-wired connections orwirelessly such as acoustic, RF or infrared through a wirelesscommunication antenna 897 in communication with the network's wirelesscommunication antenna 812 and the network interface unit 896, which mayinclude digital signal processing circuitry when necessary. The networkinterface unit 896 may provide for communications under various modes orprotocols.

In one or more exemplary aspects, the instructions may be implemented inhardware, software, firmware, or any combinations thereof. A computerreadable medium may provide volatile or non-volatile storage for one ormore sets of instructions, such as operating systems, data structures,program modules, applications or other data embodying any one or more ofthe methodologies or functions described herein. The computer readablemedium may include the memory 862, the processor 860, and/or the storagedevice 890 and may be a single medium or multiple media (e.g., acentralized or distributed computer system) that store the one or moresets of instructions 900. Non-transitory computer readable mediaincludes all computer readable media, with the sole exception being atransitory, propagating signal per se. The instructions 900 may furtherbe transmitted or received over the network 810 via the networkinterface unit 896 as communication media, which may include a modulateddata signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism andincludes any delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means asignal that has one or more of its characteristics changed or set in amanner as to encode information in the signal.

Storage devices 890 and memory 862 include, but are not limited to,volatile and non-volatile media such as cache, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM,FLASH memory or other solid state memory technology, disks or discs(e.g., digital versatile disks (DVD), HD-DVD, BLU-RAY, compact disc(CD), CD-ROM, floppy disc) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices,or any other medium that can be used to store the computer readableinstructions and which can be accessed by the computer system 800. Adatabase is preferably included in the system and connected with atleast one server computer of the system described, wherein the databasestores consumer users' spend data, including product and/or services foreach purchase made with registered electronic payment accounts,information about which are also stored on the database.

It is also contemplated that the computer system 800 may not include allof the components shown in FIG. 1, may include other components that arenot explicitly shown in FIG. 1, or may utilize an architecturecompletely different than that shown in FIG. 1. The various illustrativelogical blocks, modules, elements, circuits, and algorithms described inconnection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented aselectronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. Toclearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software,various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and stepshave been described above generally in terms of their functionality.Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or softwaredepends upon the particular application and design constraints imposedon the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the describedfunctionality in varying ways for each particular application (e.g.,arranged in a different order or partitioned in a different way), butsuch implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing adeparture from the scope of the present invention.

The present invention provides for advertising network and“spring-loaded” ad units. These flow even if the user is not signed up,with or without the card on file. They may flow if a user is signed up,whether online and cookied electronically, and in signed-in state ornot. This provides a mechanism for gaining new members, financed by thepromoting merchant's funding of the incentive and payment for the media.

The present invention provides for all capabilities that onlineadvertising networks have, plus additional payment capabilities,including but not limited to targeting, advertisement serving, etc.Prizes and games may also be included.

Location data is created in the present invention using one or morehardware and/or software components. By way of example and notlimitation, location data is created using satellite-based positioningsystems (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS), Differential GPS (DGPS),or Galileo), low energy Bluetooth based systems such as beacons,wireless networks such as WiFi, Radio Frequency (RF) including RFIdentification (RFID), Near Field Communication (NFC), magneticpositioning, cellular triangulation, and/or combinations of thesetechnologies. By way of example, location data is determined via anInternet Protocol (IP) address of a device connected to a wirelessnetwork. A wireless router is also operable to determine identities ofdevices connected to the wireless network through the router, and thusis operable to determine the locations of these devices through theirpresence in the connection range of the wireless router.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of components of the inventionillustrating the consumer applications, merchant applications,administrative applications, platform, hosted services, a web tier, cardenrollment services, network services tier including member enrollment,transaction scoring, merchant setup and offer setup modules, portal datasynchronization services, consumer users, merchant users or members,transaction data providers and transaction processors. FIG. 2illustrates one embodiment of the present invention for illustrativepurposes only; it is an example implementation of the present inventionsystem, methods, and platform and is provided for illustration purposesand is not intended to exclusively limit the claimed invention. Thefollowing description corresponds to the FIG. 2 schematic diagram.

Spring Consumer Applications are responsible for enrolling new membersand engaging with them. The Spring Tablet is a fast and simple to useMember enrollment application. Tablets are native iOS apps written inObjective-C, typically installed on iPad Mini 2's. The Tablet uses IDTech Uni-Mag 2 card readers and advanced DUKPT (Dynamic Unique Key perTransaction) encryption algorithms that guarantee secure communicationwith Spring's Card Enrollment Services. Encrypted card data istransferred to endpoints in the Spring Data Center and decrypted by aKey Appliance from StrongAuth. The card reader preferably uses an audiojack of the tablet or a lightning cable adapter to connect to thetablet. Upon payment information being received at the tablet via a cardreader, an EMV reader, manual entry of payment information, or any otherpayment method referenced above or known in the art, encrypted paymentinformation is added to a queue and sent over a network to a platformdatabase on a remote server computer. The queue solves for issues wherethe tablet or the platform database does not have internet connectivity.

The tablet is preferably configured to accept customer enrollmentsremotely into different merchant reward programs and to capturedifferent data about the consumer and/or information about merchantstaff who promote signups via the tablet. In another embodiment, thetablet is configured to request additional data associated withenrollment and membership including but not limited to a mobile phonenumber, account password, date of birth, and/or merchant specificquestions (favorite brand, team, etc) that can be used for personalizingfuture marketing messages. In yet another embodiment, the tablet isconfigured to enable a staff code to be transmitted to the platformdatabase to incentivize merchant staff members to enroll consumers inthe Rewards program. A shift mode for the tablet is used in oneembodiment to cause all enrollments for the remainder of the shift touse the staff code. Alternatively, the tablet prompts the merchant staffmember to enter the staff code after each customer enrollment.Preferably enrollment data includes identifying customer informationsuch as email address, credit card, merchant location where theenrollment occurs, tablet device identifiers, and staff identifiers.

Tablet computers capture and transmit Member emails, card tokens andmerchant enrollment data to the Spring Platform. The SpringRewards.comweb site (aka Member Portal) allows consumers to sign-up for Spring,enroll their credit or debit cards, join Merchant Rewards Programs,Claim Cash Back Offers and Gifts, Purchase Advance Sale Offers, InviteFriends, View Offer Reward, and Transaction Status, and Modify theirprofile. The responsively designed web site is hosted in the cloud(e.g., at web hosting service AWS) and built in Backbone.js, Bootstrap,HTML, CSS and object-oriented programming languages (e.g., RUBY,JAVASCRIPT). SpringRewards.com is supported by a RESTful set of webservices written in an object-oriented language (e.g., RUBY). Eventdriven member SMS and email messages are delivered through cloudcommunication platforms, including TWILIO and AMAZON SIMPLE EMAILSERVICES (SES).

Spring Mobile Apps Include Native ANDROID and IPHONE Mobile Apps forMembers.

These Apps provide push notifications, geo-location based searching andgeo-targeted offering capabilities. These native apps are built usingAPACHE CORDOVA, HTML, CSS and object-oriented programming languages(e.g., JAVASCRIPT). Spring Administrative Applications enable Springstaff to manage the Spring Platform and Operations.

Spring has customized Sales & Services Clouds and integrated them withthe Spring Platform. As Merchants and/or Offers are closed through thesales process they can be added to SpringRewards.com with a push of abutton via custom integrations built in APEX code.

Spring Members may open Service Cases or use Live Chat directly fromSpringRewards.com, which places these into the platform's Service Cloud.

Campaign Planning Tool: the system supporting Spring Marketing generatespredetermined and/or custom offer sets for each Spring Member for use invarious campaigns using a rule based relevancy engine. The custom offersets are determined by scoring all available offers using a custom ruleengine that looks at Geographic Data, and Consumer Behavior, Recency andFrequency data to rank each offer. Offer sets can then be published toSpring's Push Email Platform via the Campaign Planning Tool. TheCampaign Planning Tools are built in an object-oriented programminglanguage (e.g., RUBY) and run in the cloud (e.g., AMAZON WEB SERVICES(AWS) cloud services).

The platform (Spring) Push Email Portal allows the platform (Spring) todeliver mass promotional mailings to Spring and Merchant email listsusing the MyEmma platform. The Spring Platform integrates with MyEmma inreal time via an API that provides membership data for targeting andsegmentation. Opt-in and opt-out data is also synchronized in real time.Campaign response data is also synchronized with Spring's Merchant andAccount Manager Portals.

Data Synchronization Services are built in to be integrated with thesystem and methods of the present invention and platform as describedhereinabove.

The Account Manager Portal allows Spring Staff to lookup SpringMerchants and review key Membership, Program and Campaign businessMetrics.

The application may be hosted in the cloud at AWS and built inBackbone.js, HTML, CSS and object-oriented programming languages (e.g.,RUBY, JAVASCRIPT).

The Business Intelligence Portal application provides Spring Staff withpull and push reporting of key operational and business metrics. TheSpring Business Intelligence Portal is built on the Logi Analyticsplatform.

The Member Services Portal allows Spring staff to troubleshoot customerissues and perform basic customer service functions. The application ishosted in the cloud at AWS and built in Backbone.js, HTML, CSS andobject-oriented programming languages (e.g., RUBY, JAVASCRIPT).

Merchant Applications include a Merchant Portal, which allows SpringMerchants to review key Membership, Rewards Program and Campaignbusiness Metrics.

The application is hosted in the cloud at AWS and built in Backbone.] s,HTML, CSS and object-oriented programming languages (e.g., RUBY,JAVASCRIPT).

Spring Push Email Portal. The Spring platform supports Merchants whowish to deliver their own Newsletter or Communication mailings using theMyEmma platform. The Spring Platform integrates with MyEmma in real timevia an API which provide membership data for targeting and segmentation.Opt-in and opt-out data is also synchronized in real time. Campaignresponse data is also synchronized with Spring's Merchant and AccountManager Portals.

Spring Platform Services include a Web Tier wherein all Consumer,Merchant and Administrative applications are supported by a variety ofweb services hosted in the Cloud, preferably at a webhosting service,such as AMAZON WEB SERVICES, and is preferably built in anobject-oriented language (e.g., RUBY). The Web Tier is also hosted onone or more server computers in one embodiment. The Web Tier providesdata and services to power platform websites, Wi-Fi Captive portals,tablet kiosks, mobile apps, third party partner sites, and otherenterprise sites. The Web Tier also handles consumer communication viaemails and texts (SMS, MMS, etc.). Preferably, the emails and/or textsare automated. The Web Tier is preferably in communication with at leastone remote consumer device, a WiFi portal provider, ISP, a third partypartner site, and any other enterprise sites.

Network Services Tier includes the platform website, SpringRewards.com,and the Web Tier is integrated with a back end set of servicescollectively referred to as the Network Services tier. The NetworkServices tier is preferably on one or more remote server computers or ishosted on the cloud. The Network Services tier provides integration ofthe Spring Platform with external transaction providers and financialservices parties having card and account data, such as card networksVISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, CARDSPRING, and TSYS. These servicesenroll Members and Cards with the external partners, and are responsiblefor receiving and scoring any type of transaction which is processedthrough the external partners, including card swipe, EMV, NFC, RFID,account entry, mobile payments via apps, or any other type oftransactions involving cards. The services receive notifications fromthese partners once a transaction has occurred. One embodiment ofreceiving and scoring a transaction processed through the externalpartners includes the merchant POS or online portal sending anauthorization request to the external partner, the external partnerauthorizing the transaction, the merchant POS or online portal sending atransaction file to the external partner with enrollment data orrewards, incentive, or offer redemption data, and the external partnersending the enrollment data or rewards, incentive, or offer redemptiondata and/or transaction data to the Network Services tier of theplatform for processing according to the rules of the platform,including enrollment the account in the platform and/or verifying theenrollment data with the external partners. The Network Services tier ispreferably built in JAVA, using the Vert.x application framework. TheNetwork Services tier handles communication with data partners,including but not limited to, merchants, financial service providers,and a WiFi portal provider or ISP, and is responsible for cardenrollment and processing transaction notifications from data partners,enforcing redemption rules, and issuing statement credit instructions.

Data is distributed and synchronized across the tiers via messaging,preferably real-time or near real-time messaging.

Partner transaction notification files are preferably sent once a dayand contain information for all settled transactions received at thepartner for that business day. The files are preferably transmitted viaSFTP to a partner specified SFTP server setup during the on-boardingprocess. The files are preferably tab delimited or tab-separated. Thefiles preferably include a merchant ID, a consumer ID, a card token, atransaction time, a transaction amount, and a transaction ID.

Spring Data Center: Card Enrollment Services are a special class ofNetwork Services and are hosted in the Spring Data Center for PCICompliance. Card Data is kept encrypted from point to point and storedin a security key appliance from StrongAuth. Card Data Servicescommunicate with transaction providers during the enrollment andun-enrollment processes.

Card Data Services communicate with transaction providers during theenrollment and un-enrollment processes.

FIGS. 3-84 illustrate graphic user interface (GUI) diagrams ofembodiments of the invention (corresponds to GUIs from PPA).

Another embodiment of the present invention includes using a WiFicaptive web portal to enroll users in the platform of the presentinvention. FIG. 85 and FIG. 86 illustrate two embodiments of utilizing aWiFi captive web portal according to the present invention. Uponreceiving a request from an electronic user device to access WiFi at amerchant location, a page is displayed on the electronic user devicewhich prompts entry of a credit or debit card number and expirationdate. Fields in which to enter an email address and phone number arealso preferably displayed on the page. The page also displays fields foran existing user to enter an email address and phone number to login totheir account to access WiFi. In one embodiment, registering with theplatform or logging into the platform is required to access the WiFi.

The credit or debit card number is preferably encrypted on theelectronic user device requesting WiFi access using public and privatekey pairs. The platform database is operable to unencrypt the credit ordebit card number and enroll the associated card in the platform. Ifenrollment in the platform is accomplished through the WiFi captiveportal, the enrollment is confirmed in real-time via email, SMS, MMS, orother messaging. If more information or confirmation of the user's wishto enroll is needed, an email, SMS, MMS, or other messaging is used toprompt for this information or confirmation of the user's wish toenroll. In another embodiment, upon connecting to WiFi through the WiFiportal and not connecting a card or account to the platform, an SMSmessage, email, MMS, or other message is sent to the connected device ora provided phone or email account 5 minutes after connecting to the WiFiportal or signing up for the platform. Alternatively, the message issent 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 25 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour,2 hours, 4 hours, etc. after connecting to the WiFi portal or signing upfor the platform.

The WiFi portal preferably includes a field for a user to enter a mobilenumber to enroll their mobile device. For a user who has alreadyprovided a mobile number and wants to reconnect to the WiFi, a cookieshows that the mobile number has been entered and prevents the mobilenumber field from being displayed on the WiFi portal or shows the mobilenumber field filled in with the mobile number that has been entered. Ifa cookie shows that a mobile number was once entered but is no longer onthe back end of the platform, the mobile number field is displayed onthe portal.

Additionally, in one embodiment, a server in network communication witha wireless network hotspot is operable to detect and store a deviceidentifier (ID) corresponding to a device attempting to connect to thehotspot and/or a device within detectable proximity of the wirelessnetwork hotspot. A device ID includes any of: a Media Access Control(MAC) Address, Internet Protocol (IP) address, a device name, a deviceserial number, or any other identification information transmitted by adevice within a detectable proximity of the wireless network hotspot.Based on a location technology such as satellite-based globalpositioning signal provided by the device, a correlation of routerlocation with detection data corresponding to the device, communicationwith wireless beacons, communication with a geofence server, etc., theserver is operable to track a location of the device and determineshopping behaviors of device users in-store. For example, in oneembodiment, a wireless network hotspot router in Store A identifies thatDevice A with MAC address A1-B2-C3-D4-E5-F6 attempts to connect to thenetwork. The server logs the MAC address with the store location. Theuser logs into a Spring Account or provides an account identifier (e.g.,a credit card number, a debit card number, a phone number, or an emailaddress) through a captive web portal, and if the account identifier isassociated with a consumer profile, the profile is updated to includethe MAC address of the device. Alternatively, the MAC address (or IPaddress) of the device is associated with the consumer profile and/oraccount identifier upon registration of the consumer with the platformor upon the consumer accessing his or her Spring account on the deviceat any time, regardless of whether the device is within a proximity ofthe wireless network hotspot. If the account identifier is notassociated with a consumer profile, then a new consumer profile iscreated based on the account identifier. Additionally, the system isoperable to receive at time of interaction with a user an indication ofa permission to create an account and send communication to the user.The indication of a permission to create an account is preferablyreceived in response to a SMS, MMS, text, email, push notification,web-browser based notification, app-based notification, or any othertype of electronic message sent by the system. When the user deviceleaves the store and subsequently connects to a second wireless networkhotspot associated with or located in Store B, an indication of thedevice being located near or within Store B is tracked and stored in theconsumer profile. Wireless network hotspots are operable to be linked tothe Spring system on a per-router basis, wherein each merchant suppliesa network router and opts into the Spring system or on a shoppinglocality basis, wherein a shopping locality management entity opts intothe system for a network of routers.

The wireless network hotspot, a router of the wireless network hotspot,or a system in network communication with the router is operable toconstruct a physical presence indicator. In one embodiment, the physicalpresence indicator includes a physical presence record of a computerdevice connected to the hotspot or wireless network. The physicalpresence record includes at least one of: a geolocation of the wirelessrouter, a geolocation of the computer device, or a geolocation of anassociated merchant, store, or locality-based commerce location. Inaddition, the wireless network hotspot, router, or system in networkcommunication is operable to construct the physical presence indicatorby combining a device identification (ID) with the physical presencerecord. Thus, the physical presence indicator identifies a presence ofthe at least one device and a location of a computer device and aconsumer. In a further embodiment, the computer device is operable tosend consumer information to the wireless network hotspot, the router ofthe wireless network hotspot, or the system in network communicationwith the router, wherein the consumer information includes a device ID,records of online browsing and purchasing activity, digital cookies, aconsumer account number, contact information, and other identifyinginformation or information used for online and in-store purchasingbehavior tracking and analysis.

In one embodiment, the device directly communicates and connects to thewireless network hotspot. In another embodiment, a router of thewireless network hotspot identifies devices broadcasting a deviceidentification (ID), for example when searching for available wirelessnetworks. Although the term “router” is used for convenience throughoutthe specification, the present invention incorporates one or morebeacons to perform the same functions as a router in all embodiments inwhich the term “router” is used. By way of example, a beacon withinclose proximity to the consumer device identifies the consumer deviceusing a device ID, requests the platform server to analyze consumerinformation relating to the device ID and/or create an offer specific tothe device ID, and sends the offer to the consumer device. The beaconcommunicates with another beacon or a router to send the offer to theconsumer device in another embodiment. In yet another embodiment, one ormore beacons and/or routers determine a direction of movement of theconsumer device by a comparison of device IDs within connectivity rangeand/or comparing a strength of a signal received from the consumerdevice.

Alternatively, digital cookies, single sign-ons (SSOs) through email,social media, digital media, or any other app or web-based account, webbeacons, web bugs, and/or pixels are operable to be used for trackingdevice location history, browsing history, purchase history, or consumeraccount association. For convenience, the term “cookie” is usedthroughout the specification; however, the term “cookie” denotes anytype of tracking technology for web, app, or device based activity. Forexample, upon connecting to a wireless network hotspot and connecting toa captive web portal, the server identifies a digital cookie stored onthe device indicating previous activity associated with the device,including, for example: information about connection to a previouswireless network hotspot within the system, merchant websites visited,merchant items purchased, offers redeemed, or pre-approved offerscommunicated to the device. In one embodiment, this information ispackaged into a network activity record. The network activity record isoperable to be stored on a device associated with the online activity orstored in a consumer profile associated with the device or the consumerof the device. The network services tier, the at least one mobilecomputing device, and/or the remote server computer is operable tocreate the network activity record. The at least one mobile computingdevice and/or the platform database on the remote server computer isoperable to store the network activity record and update the networkactivity record in real-time or near real-time.

Advantageously, consumer information including email address(es), phonenumber(s), and device identification number(s) are correlated withspecific in-store and online activity including spend amounts, spendfrequencies, spend times, spend locations, presence at stores includingduration of presence, time of presence, and specific, online activityincluding browsing, app activity, social media activity, email activity,etc. Email activity includes which emails are opened, which emails aredeleted, which email lists are recently subscribed to, which email listsare recently unsubscribed to, etc. Combining this consumer informationwith real-time or near real-time presence of a consumer device detectedvia a wireless router or other geo-location methods enables for moreeffective targeted offers than the prior art.

System detection, registration, and tracking are also available in oneembodiment through a mobile application installed on a device. When adevice enters a shopping establishment (e.g., a store or shopping mall),the mobile application identifies that the device is within proximity ofa geographic location of the shopping establishment, within detectionrange of a wireless network hotspot associated with the system, orwithin detection range of a wireless beacon associated with a geofenceof the shopping establishment. The detection information is thentransmitted to the server and stored for analytics and offers. Notably,any consumer information stored by the system of the present inventionis operable to be used for analytics and offers. This consumerinformation includes, by way of example and not limitation, purchaseactivity including amount, date, and location. The purchase activity isspecific to stores located within a shopping establishment or mall inone embodiment. Alternatively, the purchase activity is all purchaseactivity associated with one or more consumer accounts linked to theSpring platform. Consumer information also includes any otherinformation associated with the consumer and stored by the platform suchas historical, real-time, or near real-time location data of consumerdevices, offers previously sent to consumer devices, offers previouslyaccepted by consumer devices, rewards earned by a consumer account, etc.In one embodiment, if the mobile application detects that a user iswithin a store that the user has previously redeemed an offer, theapplication or the server transmits a notification to the deviceindicating that the user is operable to use the redeemed offer on apurchase.

Alternatively, a server or other device associated with a routeridentifies when a consumer device is within connection range of therouter or is connected to the router, notifies the Spring platformserver, and the Spring platform server performs analytics and generatesan offer which the platform server, the server associated with therouter, or other device associated with the router sends to the consumerdevice.

Analytics includes analysis of any of the information stored in theSpring platform server for the consumer account profile associated withthe consumer device and/or other consumer account profiles with similarinformation or demographics. Analysis is preferably performed by theSpring platform server or by an analytics engine running on the Springplatform server. Alternatively, a server or other device associated withthe router stores consumer profile information locally for consumeraccounts associated with consumer devices that have previously connectedto the router, and synchronizes this information with the Springplatform server computer at predetermined time intervals. Theinformation is analyzed, individually or in combination, for theconsumer and/or for other consumers with similar attributes or behaviorto the consumer. By way of example, information analyzed includes thecurrent location of the consumer device, historical locations of theconsumer device, web browsing history including e-commerce webpageviews, online purchases, online “cart” or “basket” additions, onlinesearches, social media posts, likes, tweets, images, etc. of theconsumer device or another consumer device associated with the consumeraccount, user activity such as activity by online friend(s) orfollower(s) of a social media account associated with the consumeraccount including social media posts, likes, tweets, images, etc.

In a further embodiment, the Spring platform server is operable torequest a credit score, a credit history, or a credit report from aserver of a credit bureau (e.g., EQUIFAX, EXPERIAN, or TRANSUNION). Theplatform is operable to store the credit information, analyze the creditinformation, correlates it to other online and in-store behavior, andprovide offers, incentives, or rewards based on the credit informationor analysis of the credit information.

By way of example, upon a consumer device coming into connectivity rangeof a router, the router identifies the consumer device and sends anidentity of the consumer device and the location of the consumer deviceto the platform server. The platform server then performs the analyticsusing any information stored on the platform server. In this example,the platform server determines which stores are within a proximity tothe consumer device and then analyzes the information stored on theplatform server for the consumer account to determine which offerscurrently offered by those stores match the information stored for thatconsumer account. In this example, the platform server computerdetermines that location history for the consumer device indicates thatthe consumer device previously spent 10 minutes inside Store A.Additionally, the platform server computer determines that the browsinghistory associated with the consumer device includes searches forluggage from earlier in the day, and that the social media account ofthe consumer includes a post from the prior day that indicates that theconsumer is excited to travel to Chicago on Monday. Based on theinformation that the consumer is interested in luggage, has a timelineof purchase by next Monday, and is in close proximity to Store B(determined by comparing the device location to a map of the shoppingcenter), the platform server computer determines that an offer of 25%off luggage from Store B, which is right next to Store A, is appropriateto send to the consumer. The platform server creates this offer, sendsthe offer to the router or a server or other device associated with therouter, and the router pushes the notification to the consumer device.Alternatively, the platform server sends the offer directly to theconsumer device.

In another example, the platform server receives a current location ofthe consumer device in the same method as described in the previousexample, and the platform server performs analytics on the informationstored in the consumer profile associated with the consumer device. Inthis example, the consumer account includes two past records oftransactions at Store A and one historical record of the consumer deviceat Store A that did not result in a transaction. The two past records oftransactions at Store A occurred with redemptions of offers associatedwith the platform. Upon analysis of this information, the platformserver determines that an offer for Store A should be pushed to theconsumer device, and the offer is pushed to the consumer device as inthe previous example.

In yet another example, a cookie or other web tracker indicates that theconsumer device is browsing a website of Store A. The cookie or otherweb tracker sends notification to the platform server that the consumerdevice is browsing the website of Store A, and the platform serveranalyzes this information along with the information in the consumerprofile to determine whether an offer should be sent to the consumerdevice. The consumer profile includes information that shows theconsumer device was present in the brick and mortar Store A within thelast week. Furthermore, the consumer profile includes information thatshows that the consumer device was present in competing Store B withinthe last week and that the consumer device browsed Store B's website andadded an item to the shopping cart, but has not yet purchased the item.Based on this analysis, the server determines that an offer should besent to the consumer device. In one embodiment, the server sends a pushnotification to the consumer device with an offer for 10% off anypurchase at Store A. Alternatively, the server emails or texts the offerto the consumer device. In yet another alternative, the offer appears inan “add-on,” extension, app, or other mechanism of interfacing with theconsumer through the web page on the consumer device. In anotherembodiment, the server communicates an offer for 15% off any purchaseover $100 at the brick and mortar location.

FIG. 91 illustrates one embodiment of a financing offer provided to auser based on device activity. In this embodiment, a consumer isoperable to register by providing enrollment information through acaptive web portal of the wireless network or through or through ainitiating a transaction at a POS tablet. Based on this activity, thesystem is operable to provide offers, rewards, or incentives, such as afinancing offer.

Online Purchase Tracking

An increasingly encountered problem by business is obtaining andmatching analytics corresponding to consumers who visit or purchasein-store as well as online. This is a problem resulting from the rise ofcomputer technology and was not encountered before computer networks andinternet technology. Often, it is not possible to track user behaviorin-store and then determine whether the same user is purchasing itemsonline (or vice versa).

Advantageously, the present invention solves this problem through, interalia, a new system that obtains a new form of user behavior data fromunique sources in order to obtain previously unavailable informationabout device behavior (and corresponding user behavior) both online andin-store.

The system of the present invention is operable to collect in-store datacollected by the server or device (e.g., wireless network connectiondata, location history information, or credit card/debit card purchasehistory using a Spring-enabled account) and match the in-store data withbrowsing activity or purchases made through online stores correspondingto in-store merchants. In one embodiment, an account number (e.g.,credit card number, debit card number, or other account indicator) isprovided to a merchant website through a web browser on a computerdevice for purchasing an item. When the transaction is initiated, theSpring system identifies a consumer profile associated with thetransaction and logs information about the purchase within the server.Additionally, the website is operable to store a cookie or other web orapp tracker on the computer device detailing information about thetransaction. In some embodiments, the cookie or other web or app trackeris encrypted such that account information and transaction history isonly accessible through the Spring system.

Once a user visits a store, the system is operable to identify in-storebehavior and match the in-store behavior to the online browsing orpurchase history. In one embodiment, the in-store behavior is matched tothe online behavior through identification of transactions made with thesame account number (e.g., transactions made with the same credit cardnumber, debit card number, or other account indicator), throughidentification of a digital cookie on at least one mobile device, orthrough identification of a presence of a mobile device associated witha consumer profile (e.g., through detection of the device withindetection range of a wireless network hotspot, through the connection ofa device MAC address or other device ID to a consumer profile, orthrough beacons which are operable to transmit Bluetooth or otherwireless signals to a consumer device and recognize a device ID of theconsumer device). In one embodiment, the online behavior and thein-store behavior originate on or are tracked on the same computerdevice. In a further embodiment, the computer device is a mobile phone.In a further embodiment, the browsing and the initiating of onlinetransactions occurs through a merchant-specific application or a Springsystem-based application.

The system is additionally operable to operate in a reverse method,wherein in-store behavior data associated with a consumer profile isused to match online user activity, including browsing or purchaseactivity. In this embodiment, location, transaction, and networkinformation (e.g., from a wireless network hotspot, beacon, or ageofence) associated with a consumer profile is stored within theserver. When online activity occurs, including browsing or purchasingthrough a merchant website, identifying information from the device,such as a device ID (e.g., a MAC address) or a digital cookie stored onthe device, is retrieved by the server or sent to the server by thedevice or the merchant website. This identifying information is matchedwith a consumer profile and associated in-store activity. Notably, thisprovides a method for tracking both in-store and online activity ofusers and provides a method for providing relevant offers, rewards, orincentives to a consumer.

In one embodiment, online behavior is not limited to websites related toa merchant enrolled in the system. Instead, online behavior is operableto include browsing history and transaction history from a plurality ofweb sites not associated with merchants enrolled with the system.Browsing history and transaction history in this embodiment are obtainedthrough collection of browsing activity through an application on acomputer device, through collection of browsing history supplied bythird-party websites, through identification of tracking cookiessupplied to third-party websites and/or downloaded to devices thatbrowse or initiate transactions on a third-party website, or throughcollection of a device ID (e.g., MAC address) associated with a devicethrough third-party websites and supplied to the Spring system.

In-Store and Online Offers, Rewards, and Incentives

The combination of in-store and online behavior provides for uniquemarketing and shopping incentives to be targeted and delivered toconsumers. For example, in one embodiment, the system identifies that adevice within a shopping mall has been previously browsing a website forthe store Pottery Barn and has been searching for kitchen tables on theweb site. The system is operable to provide a notification to the deviceindicating an approved financing offer that can be redeemed by making apurchase at Pottery Barn.

Additionally, the system is operable to provide offers, incentives, andrewards to users browsing online for items. For example, if a consumerprofile indicates that a user was shopping in-store at Pottery Barn andis currently browsing Pottery Barn's website, the system is operable toprovide a notification to a device of the user providing a digitalcoupon that may be redeemed through Pottery Barn's website.Alternatively, if a consumer profile indicates that a consumer wasshopping in-store at Pottery Barn and is currently browsing relatedproducts on a third party's website (ex: Costco, Amazon, Ikea, etc.),the system is operable to provide a notification to a device of theconsumer providing a digital coupon, advertisement on the third party'swebsite, email, text, or any other type of notification to the device ofthe consumer. This notification is store-specific in one embodiment, butalternatively is product specific or specific to a class of product. Oneor more routers or beacons is operable to determine historical locationsof the consumer device within a store that correspond to a specificproduct or class of product in one embodiment. In yet anotheralternative, a product or class of products is added to a consumerprofile stored on the platform server upon a consumer device scanning abar code, QUICK RESPONSE code, or any other type of image capture,including taking a picture using a camera of the device, for a productor advertisement associated with a product or service. This informationis used in subsequent analysis and offers.

The present invention further provides a method for matching andproviding targeted advertisements to users based on in-store and onlinebehaviors. For example, the system is operable to identify that a userdevice has been present within a Pottery Barn store and has purchaseditems on Pottery Barn's website. Based on this identification, thesystem is operable to interface with a third-party advertisement systemor an internal advertisement system to match customers to relevantadvertisements that correspond to their brick-and-mortar and onlineshopping behaviors. The system is operable to transmit the matchedadvertisements or the behavior data to a third party for delivery to auser and/or is operable to display the matched advertisements directlyto a consumer when the consumer is browsing a site associated with theSpring system.

Third Party Partner Integration Scenarios

Third Party Partners are partner merchants, groups of merchants, malls,or any other party who provides for customer accounts, including cards,which may be part of an existing reward or offers program at thatmerchant, to be enrolled into the platform of the present invention.Preferably, the members or customers are able to enroll/unenrollaccounts independently from any activities that occur on the platform.Advantageously, the present invention provides for Third Party Partnermembers to receive cash back directly to their enrolled accounts.Preferably, Third Party Partner members can convert reward “points” (orany other equivalent) balances to cash through the platform.Additionally, through the platform, Third Party Partner members canincentivize specific member actions (repeat visits, predetermined spendactivities, i.e., where a certain product, good, service, time of day,day, spend level, purchase at a location, online purchase, and/orfrequency of purchase through cash back. Third Party Partner members maybe only Third Party Partner members and not be members of the platformof the present invention. Third Party Partner members may also bemembers of the platform of the present invention and also independentlybe Third Party Partner members. Challenge in integrating these “dual”members in the prior art include the fact that these dual members mayadd or remove cards from either program at any time, may associate cardswith different email addresses in either program, and the passwords theyuse to protect their accounts may be different. These dual members mayalso receive email communications and text messages to members as theyenroll themselves, their cards, claim offers and transact from eitherthe platform of the present invention or from the Third Party program.The Third Party program and the platform of the present invention mayinclude different web and mobile interfaces and links to these differentweb and mobile interfaces created using different programming.

Advantageously, the present invention provides for restrictingenrollment in one mall or shopping center group if a user is enrolled inanother mall or shopping center group. Preferably, upon a user who isenrolled in one mall or shopping center group attempting to enroll inthe second mall or shopping center group via a transaction at a POS,electronically via email or an ad, via an app, or via any of the otherenrollment mechanisms described above, the enrollment in the second mallor shopping center group is denied.

The present invention overcomes the challenges associated withintegrating the functionality of the platform with the Third Partyprogram. Particularly, the present invention provides for Third PartyPartner Members to receive cash back on an enrolled card to enable theThird Party Partner to incentivize certain behaviors independent of afull offer experience. This includes, but is not limited to, allowingThird Party Partner members to convert point balances or any other typeof reward balances to cash back or to award cash back for various useractions, such as repeat visit incentives. In one embodiment, this isaccomplished by providing a secure Application Program Interface (API)to allow the Third Party Partner app or website to request a specificcash back amount to be placed on the account.

Authentication of API calls (examples of API calls include specificoperations that client applications can invoke at runtime to performspecific tasks) are preferably performed over Hypertext TransferProtocol Secure (HTTPS). To avoid PCI exposure for the Third PartyPartner, API calls preferably originate in the client application. Thisis advantageous because it avoids the Third Party Partner's backendentirely, ensuring that the Partner is never directly in possession ofcredit card data. JSON Web Tokens are preferably used to authenticateall API calls, with each client application having a JSON Web Token(JWT) from the Partner backend before calling the Partner NotificationAPI. Notably, JWTs expire, and the client application must request a newJWT from the partner backend upon expiration of a JWT. The clientapplication passes the JWT in a custom HTTP header, preferably namedX-JSON-Web-Token. Preferably, the JWT is encoded per the standard. TheJAVASCRIPT Object Signing and Encryption (JOSE) header preferablyspecifies a RS256 algorithm. The Partner signs all JWTs with a privatekey, preferably with a minimum of 2048 bit length. The Partner sharesthe private key with the platform to verify the signature. In oneembodiment, the JWT payload includes the following Claim Names: (1) theissuer is set to the partner_uuid supplied by the platform, (2) thesubject is set to the consumer_id generated and maintained by thePartner, (3) the Issued At is set to the date that the token isgenerated, and (4) the expiration date is set to a future date.

All API calls are scoped by the authentication token. For security, theAPI will respond with a 401 Unauthorized message if any of the followingare untrue: the algorithm specified is not RS256, the signature couldnot be verified, the issuer is not recognized, the issuer in the JWTdoes not match the partner_uuid in the API request, the subject in theJWT does not match the consumer_id in the API request, the issued at ismore than 1 minute in the future, the expiration is in more than 1minute in the past, the expiration is before the issued date, and/or theexpiration is more than a set number of hours/minutes ahead of theissued date.

The Partner resource is preferably immutable and created by theplatform. The partner_uuid of the Partner resource is shared with thePartner and is used in API calls to address the Partner's resources. ThePartner shares the public key with the platform that is used to verifythe JWT authentication tokens. A public/private key pair is used toencrypt card information.

Request JSON and Response JSON code is used to get a consumer resource,create or update a consumer resource, and/or delete a consumer resourcein a consumer API. Request JSON and Response JSON code is used to getcard resources, create card resources, and/or delete card resources in acard API. Request JSON and Response JSON code is used to get membershipresources and/or update/create membership resources in a membership API.Preferably, a card token uniquely identifies a card or account in thissystem using between 5-9 digits and/or alpha numeric characters, morepreferably 7 digits.

PAN encryption is generated by encrypting plaintext PAN using theplatform's RSA public key. In one embodiment, the algorithm foraccomplishing this is (1) encrypt the pan using the public key andPKCS1_OAEP_PADDING and (2) encode the resulting encrypted pan using theURL safe base64 encoding algorithm. An example implementation of thealgorithm is written in an object-oriented language (e.g., RUBY).

Rewards

Cash back rewards are discrete cash back amounts, good anywhere.Preferably, the cash back rewards are credited directly to an account orcard. Mall cash rewards are discrete cash back amounts, good anywhere ina mall, shopping center, or other connected group of stores, preferablystores connected by location. In one embodiment, mall cash rewards areaccumulated and the earner must decide where to use it before redeeming.This advantageously shifts the cost of the mall cash to mall or shoppingcenter tenants. Mall incentives and offers function similarly to mallcash rewards by providing incentives or offers linked to an account orcard that are useable across stores in a mall or shopping center.

Earning “actions” for rewards include a repeat visit incentive(automatically activating a reward in a supported currency after a userspends to a configurable targeted amount), a sign up incentiveconfigurable by signup channel, and an invite a friend referral.Notably, sign up incentives are configurable based on the channel usedto sign up for the platform, including but not limited to, web, mobile,tablet, wi-fi captive portal, and referral by existing user. Rewards forinviting a friend reward the user who referred the friend to theplatform. In one embodiment, friend referrals are performed through asocial network such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc. Notably,referrals through a social network utilize unique capabilities of socialnetworking in the referral and/or signup process, including but notlimited to “liking” a page, sending/accepting a friend request, havingthe platform suggested to a user of the social network based on one ormore friends liking the platform, hashtags, etc.

Incentives or offers sent via SMS/MMS, email, text, mobile apps, or anyother digital methods preferably provide for users to claim/activatethese incentives or offers by clicking on text or an email. Thisadvantageously provides a technology based solution to the prior art byproviding no login friction to claim the incentive or offer when a cardor account is enrolled with the platform. “Merchant welcome” offers orincentives are also provided under the present invention, wherein anenrolled or un-enrolled user on a mobile device receives an offer orincentive based on the user's proximity to or presence in a merchantlocation. Preferably, the location is determined via WiFi, but is alsodetermined via GPS in another embodiment. Merchant welcome offers aremerchant specific or alternatively apply to an entire mall or shoppingcenter in another embodiment. Additionally, a merchant welcome offer orany other merchant incentive or offer is operable to be sent via emailwith a corresponding SMS, MMS, mobile app, or any other type ofelectronic message notifying the platform user to check their email foroffers. Offers are single offers or catalogs of offers (preferably up to6 in one communication).

Enterprise Application

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to an enterpriseapplication which is operable to be included on a third-party web sitevia inclusion of a reference to object oriented code, (e.g.,JAVASCRIPT). Significantly, the object oriented code causes theenterprise application to adopt the look and feel of the hosting sitesuch that the consumer would reasonably believe that the enterpriseapplication is native to the hosting site. In other words, the objectoriented code causes the enterprise application to adapt a plurality ofvisually perceptible elements visually corresponding to the third-partywebsite. Notably, this solution is necessarily rooted in computertechnology in order to overcome a problem specifically arising in therealm of computer networks. There is no pre-Internet or pre-computingtechnology analogous to causing an application to adopt the look andfeel of a hosting site such that a consumer would reasonably believethat the enterprise application is native to the hosting site.Importantly, this is an advancement over prior art methods such asiFrame because the application “inherits” styling from the webpage. Thisreference enables management of a card linked offer reward programdirectly via the third-party site. Additionally, the enterpriseapplication (via the reference to the object oriented code) provides forenrollment in a specific merchant's rewards program in the platform, seeavailable offers, control a profile and account features includingoffers added and earned rewards ready for redemption, view rewardsprogress, view transaction history including all rewards progresstransactions and any credits or offers that have been earned or claimed,maintain profile data, as well as consumer and card enrollment into theplatform, claim offers, add or delete debit or credit cards,login/logout of the platform account, etc.

In one embodiment, the object oriented code causes the enterpriseapplication to have the look and feel of the third party website via (a)a computer store containing data, for the third party website, defininga plurality of visually perceptible elements, which visually perceptibleelements correspond to the third party web site, (b) a computer serverat an outsource provider, the computer server coupled to the computerstore and programmed to: (i) receive from the web browser of a computeruser a signal indicating presence of the enterprise application on thethird party website; (ii) automatically identify as the source page thethird party website on which the enterprise application has beenactivated; (iii) in response to identification of the source page,automatically retrieve the stored data corresponding to the source page;and (iv) using the data retrieved, automatically generate and transmitto the web browser a second web page that displays: (A) informationassociated with the platform and (B) the plurality of visuallyperceptible elements visually corresponding to the source page.

Preferably, the containing webpage and any landing webpages that link tothe containing page utilize HTTPS protocol for reaching the objectoriented code. The platform sends a subdomain to the owner of thethird-party website to be used on the website. The subdomain value ispreferably embedded in the script on the third-party website where theenterprise application is to be displayed.

In contrast to the prior art, which requires complex code, the presentinvention provides for only the subdomain value to be utilized on thethird-party site to provide the enterprise application with the samelook and feel as the third-party site. By way of example and notlimitation, an example of the embedded subdomain is as follows, whereinSUBDOMAIN is the subdomain value sent by the platform:

<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <meta> <title>Our Rewards Program</title><link rel=”stylesheet” type=”text/css” href=”yourcssfile.css”> ...<script type=”text/javascript” src=”yourscripts.js”></script> </head><body> <h1>Our Rewards Program</h1> <script src=″https:// SUBDOMAIN.springmarketplace.com/loadSpring.js″ type=″text/javascript″></script></body> </html>

Notably, the subdomain value can also be added to the <head> portion ofthe code or at the very end of the file by adding a DIV to the page <divid=“app_container”></div>.

The enterprise app script adds a few items to the hosting webpage,including by way of example and not limitation, a CSS file and a fewobject oriented code files as well as a container for the content (withan ID of “app container”). The applications CSS file is preferablyappended to the very top of the <head> tag, so that the containingpages' CSS can override any styles they want to. Almost all of theapplication's CSS is prefixed with # app_container, so that any stylesare confined to the app, and won't conflict with the containing page.

Advantageously, the present invention provides for overriding anydefault styles by including the code “# app_container” along with anyother desired selectors for the element for which the style should beoverridden. The present invention does not require the use of the code“!important” in any override. The object-oriented code (JAVASCRIPT) isappended after any existing scripts in the <head> and does not conflictwith any existing scripts including but not limited to GOOGLEANALYTICS/GOOGLE TAG MANAGER, etc.

Notably, the subdomain value can also be added to the <head> portion ofthe code or at the very end of the file by adding a DIV to the page <divid=“app_container”></div>.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a gift card is linkedor the balance of a gift card is transferred to a card or accountregistered with the platform of the present invention. Preferably, thegift card or balance of the gift card is useable at a specific retailerassociated with the gift card. Alternatively, the gift card or balanceof the gift card is useable at a collection of retailer (i.e., acrossstores in a mall or shopping center). Gift cards are issued directly toa member enrolled in the platform or previously issued gift cards arelinked to the account or card of the platform member. Preferably, uponperforming a transaction at the merchant with the card or accountregistered with the platform, the full balance or a partial balance fromthe gift card is automatically applied to the transaction. Preferably,the partial balance Alternatively, the consumer is asked whether theconsumer would like to apply the gift card balance to the transactionvia a GUI, pop up message, or any other electronic notification.

Notably, the unconventional and non-generic combination of knownelements which form the platform of the present invention provides animprovement to the technology of an integrated platform for merchantsand consumers which provides a novel framework for tracking consumerspending as well as providing offers, rewards, and incentives.Advantageously, the platform provides for single enrollment in a singleplatform which provides offers, rewards, and incentives across amultiplicity of merchants in a platform. The platform solves numerousproblems of the prior art, including providing for users to earn rewardsthat are redeemable at merchants where the user spends as well asearning rewards redeemable outside the merchant. This platform leveragesexisting computer technology to provide technological solutions toproblems of the prior art as well as inventive concepts. Specifically,the present invention provides an integrated platform which providesoffers, rewards, and incentives for a variety of merchants. The presentinvention also provides for automatic electronic redemption forprepurchased offers, non-prepurchased offers, incentives, or rewards, bya user checking out with their payment account or card at a merchant inthe platform, either online or at a point of sale, wherein theprepurchased offers, non-prepurchased offers, incentives, or rewards arefor the specific merchant or for a mall or shopping center group whichincludes the specific merchant. The present invention also provides forproximity-based detection by a point-of-sale, a beacon, or any otherproximity sensing technology, of a mobile app with prepurchased offers,non-prepurchased offers, incentives, or rewards, and facilitatesredemption of the prepurchased offers, non-prepurchased offers,incentives, or rewards through the mobile app when a consumer checksout, online or at a point of sale, with the mobile app or a payment cardlinked to the mobile app. These particular, practical applicationsrepresent improvements to the technology of, inter alia, electronicpayment systems, mobile apps, and electronic rewards, offers, andincentives. Unlike the prior art, which requires separate rewardsaccounts and separate actions for redemptions of incentives, rewards,offers, etc., the present invention provides a technology based solutionof an integrated platform which solves these prior art problems.Additionally, the present invention provides for offers, rewards,incentives, etc. for specific “item-level” products and services by, inone embodiment, automatically electronically confirming the purchaseupon scanning a code of the good or service and/or by automaticrecognition during check out on an online platform. Upon the userpresenting their card or account for payment, the platform is notifiedthat the good or service has been purchased and the offer and/orincentive is redeemed and/or the incentive is earned with no furtheraction required by the user.

Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled inthe art upon a reading of the foregoing description. Preferably theloyalty and rewards platform of the present invention is compatible withany electronic payment systems or formats, including any point of sale(POS) electronic payment transaction at a merchant. The above-mentionedexamples are provided to serve the purpose of clarifying the aspects ofthe invention and it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatthey do not serve to limit the scope of the invention. All modificationsand improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of concisenessand readability but are properly within the scope of the presentinvention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system for providing offers, incentives,and rewards for at least two merchants comprising: a web tier hosted ona cloud network, wherein the web tier is in network communication withone or more consumer applications, merchant applications, oradministrative applications; a network services tier hosted on the cloudnetwork and providing a backend set of services, the backend set ofservices operable for real-time communication with at least onefinancial services server, wherein the backend set of services isoperable to redeem an offer for a consumer account, redeem an incentivefor the consumer account, or credit a reward to the consumer account;wherein the remote server computer is operable to store consumerinformation and at least one loyalty program enrollment associated withthe consumer account, and wherein the consumer information includes anaccount identifier related to at least one payment method; wherein theremote server computer is operable to manage merchant offers,incentives, and rewards across at least two merchants for the consumeraccount; wherein the web tier is operable to receive a real-timepurchase record with at least one corresponding consumer account numberand a purchase amount, wherein the real-time purchase record furtherincludes indication of a merchant, at least one purchased product orservice, a corresponding device ID, and/or corresponding consumercontact information; wherein the remote server computer is operable toidentify a corresponding user account by matching the correspondingconsumer account number with the account identifier and/or by matchingthe corresponding device ID and/or the corresponding consumer contactinformation with the stored consumer information; wherein the remoteserver computer is operable to provide the merchant offers, incentives,or rewards based on the merchant of the real-time purchase record andthe stored consumer information associated with the identifiedcorresponding user account; wherein the merchant offers, incentives, orrewards include at least one financing offer, incentive or reward; andwherein upon acceptance of the at least one financing offer, the networkservices tier is operable to reimburse at least some amount of thepurchase amount and charge the at least one payment method based onterms of the financing offer.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein thefinancing offer is targeted based on the consumer information associatedwith the identified corresponding user account meeting pre-set criteria.3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one device includes anapplication, wherein the application is operable to track and storelocation, browsing, and purchasing information for the at least onedevice; wherein the application is further operable to construct anetwork activity record based on physical location, browsing, andpurchasing information and transmit the network activity record to theremote server computer, the web tier, or the network service tier; andwherein the remote server computer is further operable to update theconsumer profile with the network activity record and provide themerchant offers, incentives, or rewards based on the network activityrecord.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the web tier is operable toconstruct a network activity record and transmit the network activityrecord to the remote server computer, wherein the network activityrecord includes e-commerce webpage views, online purchases, onlineshopping cart additions, online searches, social media posts, and/orother social media interactions.
 5. The system of claim 1, furtherincluding a tablet computer hosted at a physical commerce location,wherein the tablet computer is operable to receive the consumerinformation, including the account identifier related to at least onepayment method, and transmit the consumer information to the remoteserver computer.
 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising at leastone wireless router, wherein the at least one wireless router isoperable to construct a physical presence indicator for at least onedevice in network communication with the at least one wireless routerand transmit the physical presence indicator to the remote servercomputer.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one wirelessrouter is part of a network of routers, and wherein the routers of thenetwork of routers are positioned throughout a physical commercelocation.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the network services tier isoperable to reimburse and/or charge the at least one payment method inreal time or near-real time.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein theaccount identifier related to the at least one payment method is acredit card number or debit card number.
 10. A system for providingoffers, incentives, and rewards for at least two merchants comprising: aweb tier hosted on a cloud network, wherein the web tier is in networkcommunication with one or more consumer applications, merchantapplications, or administrative applications; a network services tierhosted on the cloud network and providing a backend set of services, thebackend set of services operable for real-time communication with atleast one financial services server, wherein the backend set of servicesis operable to redeem an offer for a consumer account, redeem anincentive for the consumer account, or credit a reward to the consumeraccount; wherein the remote server computer is operable to storeconsumer information and at least one loyalty program enrollmentassociated with the consumer account, and wherein the consumerinformation includes an account identifier; wherein the remote servercomputer is operable to communicate at least one offer, incentive, orreward based on the stored consumer information associated with theidentified corresponding user account; wherein the remote servercomputer is operable to manage offers, incentives, and rewards across atleast two offers, incentives, or rewards programs for the consumeraccount; wherein the remote server computer is operable to receive anindication of activation of the at least one offer, incentive, orreward; wherein the web tier is operable to receive a real-time purchaserecord with at least one corresponding consumer account number and apurchase amount, wherein the real-time purchase record further includesindication of a merchant, at least one purchased product or service, acorresponding device ID, and/or corresponding consumer contactinformation; wherein the remote server computer is operable to identifya corresponding user account by matching the corresponding consumeraccount number with the account identifier and/or by matching thecorresponding device ID and/or the corresponding consumer contactinformation with the stored consumer information; and wherein the remoteserver computer is operable to redeem the at least one offer, incentive,or reward for the consumer account.
 11. The system of claim 10, whereinthe at least one offer, incentive, or reward is targeted based onbrowsing history, physical location history, purchase history, and/ordemographics of the consumer information associated with the consumeraccount.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the network services tieris operable to debit or credit the at least one consumer account basedon the at least one offer, incentive, or reward.
 13. The system of claim10, wherein the remote server computer is further operable tocommunicate, activate, and redeem offers, incentives, or rewards usingan external rewards program or an external points program.
 14. Thesystem of claim 13, wherein the external rewards program or the externalpoints program is associated with at least one payment method connectedto the consumer account.
 15. The system of claim 10, wherein the remoteserver computer is operable to attach at least one pre-purchased offerto the at least one account and redeem the at least one pre-purchasedoffer.
 16. A method for providing offers, incentives, and rewards for atleast two merchants comprising: storing consumer information and atleast one loyalty program enrollment associated with the consumeraccount, and wherein the consumer information includes an accountidentifier; managing offers, incentives, and rewards across at least twooffers, incentives, or rewards programs for the consumer account;communicating at least one offer, incentive, or reward based on thestored consumer information associated with the identified correspondinguser account; receiving an indication of activation of the at least oneoffer, incentive, or reward; receiving a real-time purchase record withat least one corresponding consumer account number and a purchaseamount, wherein the real-time purchase record further includesindication of a merchant, at least one purchased product or service, acorresponding device ID, and/or corresponding consumer contactinformation; identifying a corresponding user account by matching thecorresponding consumer account number with the account identifier and/orby matching the corresponding device ID and/or the correspondingconsumer contact information with the stored consumer information; andredeeming the at least one offer, incentive, or reward for the consumeraccount.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising a networkservices tier communicating with at least one financial services networkand receiving the real-time purchase record via the financial servicesnetwork.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising reimbursingand/or charging at least one payment method in real time or near-realtime.
 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising charging and/orreimbursing at least one payment method using the account identifier,wherein the account identifier is a credit card number or debit cardnumber.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the communication of the atleast one offer, incentive, or reward is targeted, and wherein thecommunication occurs before the corresponding user account has beenidentified or upon identification of the corresponding user account.